The Cheetahs are likely to face French giants Toulon in the Challenge Cup round of 16 clash at Stade Mayol on Saturday without veteran playmaker Frans Steyn.
Steyn took a knock to his knee in Friday’s 32-7 victory for the Free Staters against the Vodacom Bulls at Toyota Stadium in the Currie Cup.
His experience of French conditions and opposition – he played for Racing Metro and Montpellier between 2009 and 2020 – is crucial to the Cheetahs for their first appearance in the knockout stages of European competition.
The Bloemfontein outfit are due to leave for France on Tuesday.
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“The chances are slim that he will be right. I actually don’t think there will be a chance, because he was very hurt on Friday night,” Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie was quoted in Sunday newspaper Rapport.
“He was at the doctor on Saturday morning and let us know it didn’t look good. I guess we’ll have to make peace with that.
“However, we will know more on Monday but it doesn’t look good. He took a hard hit on the same knee that bothered him last year.”
Steyn’s latest injury is a concern, as the 35-year-old hopes to feature for the Springboks at a fourth Rugby World Cup in six months’ time in what is likely to be his swansong Test season.
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