VIDEO: Prop blow for Boks

World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff will almost certainly be sidelined for the rest of the year with a neck injury.

In another Springbok injury update it was revealed that Kitshoff’s World Cup teammate RG Snyman is doing his rehabilitation for a leg injury with Irish province Leinster in Dublin.

* This news bulletin came on the same day Rassie Erasmus named his Springbok tour squad for the Rugby Championship trip to Argentina!

Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson admitted they are in the market for a loosehead prop, but will most likely look internally – as the market for a seasoned prop is “closed”.

Kitshoff, who returned from a season-ending knee injury during Ulster’s Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Clermont back in April, has played just over 100 minutes since returning from Ireland.

He started in the 39-30 Currie Cup Round Nine win over Pumas in Cape Town and played 68 minutes.

A week later he came off the bench at half-time in the 29-37 loss to Griquas in Kimberley, adding another 40 minutes to his legs.

However, the trip to Kimberley proved costly and Dobson confirmed that Kitshoff will be sidelined for at least six weeks with a neck injury.

“He suffered [a neck] ligament injury,” Dobson told @rugby365com, adding: “I am not sure to what grade [extent]

“It is high up on his neck.

“Six weeks is the reassessment date – so he is out for six weeks at least,” the Stormers boss said.

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He added that they won’t take any chances, as ligament, the neck and stability is a ‘dangerous cocktail’.

“It is something you approach very cautiously.

“Six weeks and then we’ll be able to tell you how many more weeks after that.”

The result is that Kitshoff is almost certainly out of the year-end tour – which will see South Africa face off against Scotland, England and Wales in November.

It comes in a year in which Kitshoff has struggled with injuries and has so far missed all out of South Africa’s Tests.

Kitshoff suffered a knee injury during Ulster’s Challenge Cup quarterfinal loss to Clermont in April, where he played 55 minutes before being substituted.

The two-time World Cup winner returned to South Africa, where he consulted a knee specialist over a treatment plan.

* Meanwhile Leinster coach Leo Cullen described Snyman’s leg injury – suffered while on Rugby Championship duty with the Boks – as ‘pretty minor’.

“He was out on the side of the pitch [at training],” Cullen said on Tuesday, adding: “He was doing his rehab run.

“I am not sure about Round One, but hopefully Round Two or Three [of the URC] he will be back.”

The coach added that he doesn’t expect Snyman to return to South Africa and will play for Leinster before the year-end tour in November.

@king365ed
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