World Cup doubt for Bok
Seasoned Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen has undergone surgery for a neck injury and is in doubt for the World Cup.
This was one of the big setbacks unveiled at the Bok camp's first media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday – ahead of their encounter with the World XV at Newlands on July 11 and the Rugby Championship that gets underway next month.
Oosthuizen went under the knife on Monday and is definitely out of the Rugby Championship.
He has a "very slim" chance of making the World Cup.
Veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez is another major injury concern, as he will be sidelined for an extended period with a medial knee ligament injury.
Du Preez suffered the knee injury while training with his Japanese club last week.
On Monday it was revealed that the 33-year-old will be sidelined for between four to eight weeks and will probably also miss entire Rugby Championship.
Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee) and Duane Vermeulen (bulging neck disk) will also miss the first few rounds of the Rugby Championship.
However, they are being nursed back to health with a view to the World Cup.
Schalk Burger has groin strain and is doing well. He should be fine to play in the Rugby Championship.
Pat Lambie was cleared by specialist last week, after his neck injury earlier in the season, but his return date is still to be determined.
