Star South Africa scrum-half Fourie du Preez will miss the Rugby Championship because of an ankle injury.
A South African Rugby Union statement said the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winner would be sidelined for at least three months.
Japan-based Du Preez was injured early in a 55-6 rout of Scotland last Saturday in Port Elizabeth and the worst fears of coach Heyneke Meyer were realised on Tuesday.
"It is a massive blow to lose a world-class player due to injury," the coach said as he prepares for home and away Tests against Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
"Fourie is a dynamic leader, one of the vice-captains, and his injury is a huge setback. He has been brilliant since returning to the Springboks last year.
"However, this provides an opportunity for other scrum-halves to prove themselves and make the step up when the opportunity arises."
Bulls winger-cum-scrum-half Francois Hougaard replaced Du Preez in the Scotland Test.
Du Preez is among six 2013 Springboks ruled out of the Rugby Championship by injury.
The others are centre Jaque Fourie, locks Flip van der Merwe and Pieter Steph du Toit and loose forwards Arno Botha and Pierre Spies.
South Africa host the Argentine Pumas on August 16 in the first round of the southern hemisphere championship.
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