Cape Town - When the Bulls released their latest injury report on Monday evening, they revealed that Jan Serfontein faces another two months on the sidelines.
Serfontein was withdrawn from Allister Coetzee's Springbok squad ahead of the June 11 Test against Ireland in Cape Town with a wrist injury.
Bulls team doctor Herman Rossouw revealed from Loftus on Monday that Serfontein was recovering from surgery for a scaphoid fracture and that he faced "around two more months out of action".
That places the 23-year-old in serious doubt for this year's Rugby Championship, which gets underway on August 20 when the Boks host Argentina in Nelspruit.
Serfontein was the 2015 World Cup replacement for injured captain Jean de Villiers, where he played in five matches as a substitute including the semi-final loss to New Zealand.
Even if he had been fit for the Ireland series, Serfontein would likely have found himself below the centre combination of Damian de Allende and Lionel Mapoe in the midfield pecking order.
With Jesse Kriel, De Allende's centre partner at the World Cup after De Villiers withdrew, also knocking on the door the 23-year-old Serfontein has a lot of work to do if he is to force his way into Coetzee's starting XV.
He had been in sublime Super Rugby form this season before his injury, but will take no further part in the competition.
Serfontein has been capped 26 times by the Boks - starting 11 times and appearing as a substitute 15 times.