Pieter-Steph du Toit's season is over after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Sharks' win over the Cheetahs on Saturday, and it is highly unlikely he will be going to the World Cup in the UK either.
The Sharks lock, one of the most prodigious talents out of the East Coast, twisted his knee in a tackle during the first half of Saturday's game in Bloemfontein and was out for the count.
A disconsolate Du Toit boarded a flight to Cape Town to see a surgeon, while his teammates went the opposite way, feeling bitter-sweet about their 27-10 victory.
This is the second such injury the 22-year-old has suffered in his short, promising career, but this one will have added sting because of the lost opportunity to play in the World Cup later this year.
The injury has added to the sleepless nights of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, who had plans of pairing the youngster with Bulls veteran Victor Matfield. That Cheetahs second rower Lood de Jager broke his elbow in the first game of the season, coincidentally in the reverse fixture in Durban, has added to Meyer's woes.
Du Toit suffered the identical injury during this month last year in training in the lead-up to a Sharks clash against the Reds, which scuppered his international progress.
TV Highlights
Today
Cycling: Tirreno-Adriatico, stage 6 at 3.20pm on SS7
Rugby: Varsity Cup, Shimlas vs Ikeys at 4.30pm and UJ vs Tuks at 6.45pm, both on SS1
Soccer: English Premier League, Swansea vs Liverpool at 9pm on SS3; FA Cup replay, Reading vs Bradford at 9.40pm on SS4; Serie A, Fiorentina vs AC Milan at 8pm and Roma vs Sampdoria at 10pm, both on SS5; La Liga, Getafe vs Real Sociedad at 9.40pm on SS9
Tennis: ATP Paribas Open at 8pm on SS7
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