The Springbok in question is Eben Ezebeth, and the enforcer is said to have suffered a knee injury so severe that it required surgery.
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And the Springboks' injury list is growing alarmingly, with Etzebeth expected to be sidelined for at least a few weeks, according to a dejected John Plumley.
“Eben Ezebeth has started playing but is currently undergoing knee surgery so it will be a few weeks before he returns.
“It's been a long season and I've had a lot of injuries, so I feel like I've been handicapped.”
Sharks' Ezebeth, who played against France's Oyonnax in the Champions Cup on January 13, was likely to miss this week's URC Coastal Derby against the Stormers, but the fact that he will miss several other important games I decided to leave coaching. Plumtree was annoyed.
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Springbok test facilities (updated):
Castle lager new series:
Saturday 6th July: Springboks vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday 13 July: SA v Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, July 20: SA vs. Portugal (Bloemfontein, Toyota Stadium)
Castle Lager Rugby Championship:
Saturday 10th August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday 17 August: Australia vs Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Saturday 31 August: SA vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 7th September: Springboks v New Zealand (Cape Town, DHL Stadium)
Saturday, September 21: Argentina vs. SA (venue to be determined)
Saturday, September 28: Springboks vs Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)