World Cup blow for Whiteley

INJURY UPDATE: Former Springbok captain Warren Whiteley's prospects of making the World Cup cut is diminishing with every passing day.

The knee injury that has sidelined him since April looks set to keep him from the field for a while longer.

Whiteley had earmarked this weekend's Currie Cup encounter between the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls as a possible return date.

However, his name was conspicuous by its absence when the team was announced for the Round Five encounter at Ellis Park.

"Warren is still busy with rehabilitation," Golden Lions media manager Annemie Bester told a media briefing at Ellis Park.

"His recovery is taking longer than initially thought.

"We are taking it week-by-week, but at this stage he is not ready to play."

Bester was unable to give a timeframe for Whiteley's possible return.

"We have to give him time to recover."

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is set to name his World Cup squad towards the end of the month, leaving Whiteley precious little time to prove his fitness.

The 31-year-old Whiteley also missed the early part of the Super Rugby season with a pectoral muscle tear.

Whiteley was named SA captain in 2017, but was injured after just two Tests as skipper.

He was then sidelined for the next six months with a groin injury.

On his return in early 2018 he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of most of the Super Rugby season and kept him out of more Tests.

Whiteley returned to lead the Lions in a third successive Super Rugby Final last August and then played for Springboks in the Rugby Championship, before his latest round of injuries.

@rugby365com