‘Freak accident’ derailed Kitshoff

Cape Town - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says it was a freak accident which led to loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff’s knee injury.

Springbok management on Tuesday confirmed Kitshoff will be out for approximately four weeks after sustaining an injury to the medial ligaments of his left knee.

Kitshoff was sent for scans on Wednesday morning which confirmed the diagnosis of a grade two MCL injury and he will unavailable for the Boks’ next three matches.

Meyer rued the injury as he was looking to utilise the prop in the coming weeks.

“Steven sustained a grade two tear of his medial ligaments in training. It was a freak accident. It’s not too serious,” Meyer told Netwerk24.

“We wanted to pick him against the Wallabies, but will now have to consider another front row. The plan was to use the next five weeks to see what value the players could add.”

Jannie du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira are the starting props for Saturday’s clash against the World XV, with Trevor Nyakane and Vincent Koch on the bench.

Frans Malherbe was not picked for Saturday’s match but is expected to start at tighthead prop against Australia in Brisbane next Saturday.

Kick-off for Saturday's clash at Newlands is scheduled for 17:00.

Teams:

Springboks

15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jean de Villiers

World XV

TBA