The Springboks have suffered a massive blow to their front-row stocks with news that Frans Malherbe is set to miss the end-of-year tour due to injury.

The 30-year-old Malherbe is nursing the same neck injury which ruled him out of South Africa’s second Test against the All Blacks and, according to Rapport, he will not recover in time for the tour of Europe.

In a further blow, lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg has been ruled out of contention for Bok selection after suffering a calf injury while playing for Montpelier in the French Top 14 last week.

In better news on the injury front, flank Marco van Staden is available for selection after recovering from the injury he suffered in the first Test against New Zealand. He made his return to the action as a substitute for Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership this weekend.