Connacht prop Nathan White will miss Ireland's coming rugby Tests after rupturing a tendon in his upper arm in training with Joe Schmidt's squad.
The New Zealand-born tighthead faces surgery next week and could be sidelined for as long as four months.
The 33-year-old was lined up for his international debut against South Arica, the former Leinster front-rower expected to understudy Mike Ross across the series.
Marty Moore is already out for three months after shoulder surgery and coach Schmidt will be pinning hopes on Leinster's experienced front-rower Ross recovering from groin trouble as expected to shore up Ireland's scrum.
Leinster's 34-year-old scrum cornerstone is expected to return to full training next week.
White's absence, allied to Moore's shoulder surgery, leaves Ireland short of experience at tighthead for the South Africa clash.
Schmidt had admitted he promoted White into the squad for his potential debut on the strength of his lengthy top-level club career, expecting the 33-year-old to handle Test intensity better than several promising but young and raw prospects.
Now the former Leinster coach must draw on Connacht's versatile front-rower Rodney Ah You and Munster's Stephen Archer as potential understudies to Ross.
Ireland will still be shorn of at least 15 stars for the visit of Heyneke Meyer's Springboks, however, before entertaining Georgia and then Australia.
Share
