Apehelele Fassi is highly likely to miss the remaining Springbok Tests this year.
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The fullback left the field during the Boks’ 43-10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington due to a fracture in his leg, which required surgery.
According to reports, the Sharks are hoping that he’s declared fit for their Vodacom URC clash against Connacht on 29 November or their Champions Cup fixture against Top 14 champions Toulouse on 7 December.
But those possible return dates fall outside the Springboks’ end-of-year tour which includes Tests against Japan (1 November), France (8 November), Italy (15 November), Ireland (22 November) and Wales (29 November).
Fassi confirmed on social media on Friday that he had gone under the knife.
“Surgery went well, R&R now. BRB. Thank you for the wishes and kind messages. Much appreciated,” he wrote on Instagram.
Willemse – who starred for the Boks against the All Blacks at the Cake Tin – is likely to start at fullback against Argentina in Durban on Saturday.
Fassi and De Jager suffered their injuries in last weekend’s 43-10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington, while Du Preez injured his knee in training ahead of the Eden Park Test, which the Boks lost 17-24.
It was late in the first half of the Wellington Test when Fassi was spotted clutching his right ankle on the field before being replaced by Andre Esterhuizen.
Fassi was then seen wearing a moon boot as he watched the rest of the game from the sideline.
The 27-year-old has now taken to social media to share a video of his recovery.
The video shows Fassi’s right foot in a cast, and the post was accompanied by the following words: ” Surgery went well. R&R now. Thank you for the wishes and kind messages.”
Fassi, De Jager and Du Preez are all set for lengthy periods on the sidelines as the Boks turn their attention to the final two Rounds of the Rugby Championship.
