Rassie Erasmus will be without the services of a hard-hitting loose forward for the Springboks’ end-of-year tour starting in November.
Jean-Luc du Preez has undergone knee surgery following the injury he picked up in the lead-up to the 6 September Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
The 30-year-old was set to start in that blockbuster Test, but injured his knee during training.
According to Rapport, he’ll only return to the playing field in mid-January and won’t be considered for the five Tests against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
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Du Preez has had torrid luck so far this season. Just two weeks before the Eden Park Test, he was ruled out of the second Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town on the morning of the game due to illness.
That would’ve been his first Test start in seven years after he’d worn the No 8 jersey in the non-cap match against the Barbarians.
The injury has also meant that Du Preez is unable to make his debut for his new club Bordeaux.
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