Jaden Hendrikse is in a race against time to face Australia on 8 July, as the Springbok scrumhalf reportedly faces up to 10 weeks on the sidelines after shoulder surgery.
The Boks kick off a bumper 2023 Test season with a clash between the world champions and the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld in a shortened Rugby Championship.
Hendrikse injured his shoulder in action for the Sharks last week against Munster in the Champions Cup last-16, and has since gone under the knife.
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He impressed for the Boks in a breakout 2022 campaign, pushing World Cup winner Faf de Klerk for the No 9 jersey, and is tipped to star in five months’ time at this year’s World Cup in France.
Fellow Bok Grant Williams is set to start in his place for the Sharks against Toulouse when the teams clash in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, and the 26-year-old can also expect more game time in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship that could improve his chances of national selection.
Photo: Twitter/@Springboks