The Japan Times - Springbok star Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers ankle injury

The 24-year-old limped off the field on Saturday after scoring a try in a 44-21 victory for the Stormers over Cardiff in a United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final in Cape Town.

What was initially seen as a precautionary measure, turned more serious when Dobson spoke about the injury.

"It looks pretty serious. He is obviously going for scans. It looks like a proper ankle injury," the coach told reporters.

After the match, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was using crutches, eye-witnesses told the South African media.

Dobson added that it was "highly unlikely" the playmaker would travel with the Stormers to Dublin for a URC semi-final against title-holders Leinster on Saturday.

Should he be forced into a long lay-off, Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok are the likeliest contenders to fill the fly-half role for world champions South Africa.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the latest injury worry for the Springboks ahead of a 13-Test season, beginning on July 4 against England in Johannesburg.

Before facing England, South Africa will play the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20 in a non-Test warm-up match.

Lock and scrum-half are areas of particular concern for head coach Rassie Erasmus, who played key roles in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup triumphs of South Africa.

Leinster lock RG Snyman has been ruled out for the 2026 season and fellow second-row forward Lood de Jager is not expected to be available before August.

Scrum-half Morne van den Berg faces up to six months on the sidelines after surgery for a torn bicep.

Fellow scrum-halves Cobus Reinach, Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams are also recovering from injuries, prompting reports that veteran Faf de Klerk may be recalled to the national squad.

South Africa host England, Scotland and Wales in the inaugural Nations Championship during July. The world champions then travel to Argentina for a one-off Test on August 8.

From August 22, arch-rivals South Africa and New Zealand engage in a four-Test series. Johannesburg hosts two matches, one will be in Cape Town and the final Test is in the United States.

Another one-off Test, in Australia, follows. In November, South Africa resume their Nations Championship campaign away to Italy, France and Ireland before the tournament climax in London.

T.Ueda--JT