Cape Town - Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar will be out of action for approximately four to six weeks with a medial collateral ligament sprain.
This was confirmed after he was sent for scans on Monday.
Pienaar was injured in South Africa's 14-10 loss to New Zealand in Wellington last weekend. The injury also casts doubt on his availability for the season ending tour to Europe, but is a better prognosis than the "months" he was originally expected to be sidelined for.
The Boks' first end of year tour match is against Ireland on Saturday, November 8.
Wing JP Pietersen was called up to replace Pienaar in the Bok squad for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
With flank Francois Louw also out for the Rugby Championship due to a pinched nerve in his neck, the Bok injury toll has mounted to 12.
Other players out injured are: Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez and Jaque Fourie.
South Africa's next Test in the Rugby Championship is against Australia at Newlands on September 27.
This was confirmed after he was sent for scans on Monday.
Pienaar was injured in South Africa's 14-10 loss to New Zealand in Wellington last weekend. The injury also casts doubt on his availability for the season ending tour to Europe, but is a better prognosis than the "months" he was originally expected to be sidelined for.
The Boks' first end of year tour match is against Ireland on Saturday, November 8.
Wing JP Pietersen was called up to replace Pienaar in the Bok squad for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
With flank Francois Louw also out for the Rugby Championship due to a pinched nerve in his neck, the Bok injury toll has mounted to 12.
Other players out injured are: Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez and Jaque Fourie.
South Africa's next Test in the Rugby Championship is against Australia at Newlands on September 27.