The Springboks appear to have accepted that Frans Steyn won’t recover from a knee injury in time to make the final squad that will travel to France for the World Cup.

Steyn was not included in the 40-player squad for the Rugby Championship announced by the Springboks on Saturday afternoon.

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The veteran back was aiming to make a fourth World Cup appearance, having starred as a utility option off the bench in 2019, and potentially win the tournament for a third time.

However, Steyn suffered a knee ligament injury while in action for the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup match against the Vodacom Bulls in March.

In the latest update on the 36-year-old’s fitness, he is still recovering from surgery and has yet to start rehab on his knee, according to Sunday newspaper Rapport.

Given the Springboks will announce their World Cup squad on 8 August, this gives Steyn less than two months to return to fitness.

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