Cape Town - Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen has suffered a knee injury while playing for his French club Toulon and was on Saturday withdrawn from the Springbok squad.
The Springboks face Argentina next week in the first Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test match of the year.
The opening Test of the 2016 campaign takes place next Saturday, 20 August at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
Vermeulen underwent a MRI scan on Friday evening after playing for his club and he will in all likelihood undergo surgery next week to repair damages caused by the recurring injury to his right knee.
The Springbok management has confirmed that for now, no replacement will be called up as they feel the squad currently has sufficient cover amongst the loose forwards for the first Test against Argentina. They will assess the situation thereafter.
Meanwhile, the Springbok squad reassembles tomorrow (Sunday 14 August) in Johannesburg to resume with their preparations for the Pumas encounter.
Their overseas-based players as well as two Springbok Sevens Olympians will join the Bok squad in Johannesburg, from where they will travel to Nelspruit.