Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe is confirmed to be out for the remainder of South Africa's Nations Championship fixtures, following a broken jaw sustained in the third Test win over New Zealand.
The world champions will have high aspirations of winning the inaugural Nations Championship, have won the last two Rugby World Cups, with the injury to Kolbe set to be a major blow.
The 32-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the best and most dangerous players in the world, has been a pivotal member of the Springboks squad who won back-to-back William Web Ellis cups, scoring a famous try in the 2019 final against England.
However, having sustained a broken jaw in the third Test against the All Blacks, Kolbe is set to miss South Africa's Northern Hemisphere tour, which will see them face Italy, France and Ireland, before their finals weekend match in Twickenham.
Stormers head coach John Dobson confirmed the extent of Kolbe's injury, stating: “I think it was two months from when he sustained that injury, which was the Soweto Test."
Kolbe himself has spoken out about the injury, as he appeared on the For the Love of Rugby South Africa podcast, Kolbe revealing to former Springboks prop Steven Kitshoff that: "It’s the most frustrating injury to have."
“Firstly, you can’t eat, you have a swollen face for about three weeks, got a lot of pain. The worst is you get home, your wife’s cooking or getting dinner ready, or you’re having to go buy food, and you can’t eat at all."
The Springboks currently sit at the top of the Southern Hemisphere standings, level on points with New Zealand, which would set up a bumper finals match against France at Allianz Stadium Twickenham as things stand.
When will Cheslin Kolbe return from injury?
According to Dobson, Kolbe is set to return to action for the Stormers in December, with the South African side's head coach confirming: "Chessie is not going to make the Springboks tour but he’s available for us from the start of December, our first game back."
“He’s attending team meetings; he’s so involved. We can’t wait to have him. There’s a silver lining in that.”
“I’m sure the Springboks are going to miss him on the end of your tour. I don’t know if he makes it, maybe later on in the tour, I’m not close enough to it, but I know he’s with us from the beginning of December onwards.”
