VIDEO: Boks suffer another flyhalf setback

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa's flyhalf crisis took a turn for the worse, with another seasoned player ruled out of the year-end tour.

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie confirmed to @rugby365com on Thursday that Steyn aggravated a knee strain in their 53-25 rout of the touring United States Falcons team in Bloemfontein last Friday.

Fourie said the 35-year-old, two-times World Cup winner has a "bone bruise and a bit of a meniscus tear".

While Steyn does not require surgery, he will be sidelined for four to six weeks - ruling him out of the trip to Europe next month.

The Boks face Ireland (November 5), France (November 12), Italy (November 19) and England (November 26).

Fourie expects the 78-times capped Bok to be fit for the Cheetahs' trip to Europe in December - when they play Section Paloise in Pau on December 10 and Scarlets at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma on December 17 in the opening rounds of the Challenge Cup competition.

The absence of Steyn further depletes the Boks' flyhalf resources - with Handre Pollard (knee injury) and Elton Jantjies (personal reasons) also unavailable.

Pollard aggravated a knee injury he sustained in the Rugby Championship when he made his debut for his Premiership Leicester Tigers.

Jantjies has been in headlines since he was sent home ahead of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship match against Los Pumas in Argentina on September 11 - following media reports of an extra-marital affair the veteran No.10 had.

The 32-year-old Japan-based Bok has been linked to a move to the Top 14 side Toulon.

The absence of Frans Steyn, who started in the last Rugby Championship outing - a 38-21 win over Argentina in Durban last month - leaves Damian Willemse and Johan Goosen as the main options at No.10.

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Willemse started against Argentina in Buenos Aires and Australia in Sydney, after Pollard was injured in the Test against the Wallabies in Adelaide back in August.

With two midweek matches scheduled for the year-end tour, the Bok selectors are likely to call up a couple of rookies as cover.

"It is a bit unfortunate," Fourie said about Steyn's untimely injury, adding that: "Game time would have been good for Frans.

"It is 'old' knees, so some of the scars have been there for a while.

"He doesn't require surgery and will do some rehabilitation and reconditioning - then he will be good to go."

@king365ed

@rugby365com