The Springboks will be determined to finish the year with a flourish as they soon head into the November Tests, but it has already been confirmed that at least four Springboks are set to miss the end-of-year tour.
Two World Cup winners, Steven Kitshoff (neck) and and Lood de Jager (shoulder), are set to be unavailable, while rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (knee) is also expected miss out as he recovers from surgery. Evan Roos is unlikely to be considered after recently going under the knife with a shoulder injury.
A shocking report has now emerged to suggest there is still major uncertainty around the neck injury suffered by Kitshoff, who could be forced into early retirement if he receives an unfavourable assessment from a medical specialist within the next couple of weeks.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the seriousness of the injury means there is doubt over whether he will make it back onto the field.
“We have to wait for six weeks, which hasn’t come yet,” Stormers coach John Dobson said this week.
“There’s a thing called an ADI gap, which is a measurement at the top of the neck. They are waiting until after six weeks to see if there is improvement.
“That hasn’t come yet. It will be in the next week or two. Then we will know whether he needs surgical intervention, which could mean he’s out for six to eight months.
“Where the injury is, you have to be super conservative.”
HERE IS A REMINDER OF THE SPRINGBOKS’ REMAINING FIXTURES IN 2024
Sunday, 10 November: Scotland vs SA (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, 16 November: England vs SA (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 23 November: Wales vs SA (Principality Stadium, Cardiff
What do you make of this latest news regarding Steven Kitshoff?
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