Springbok winger S’bu Nkosi has been ruled out for eight to 12 weeks due to an ankle injury.

Nkosi was one of the standout performers for the Boks during the June Test series against England, but he sustained a syndesmosis sprain of his left ankle upon his return to Super Rugby action.

The young winger left the field prematurely during last Saturday’s clash between the Sharks and Stormers, with subsequent scans revealing that he will be out of action for two to three months.

Should Nkosi recover quickly, he could still be considered for the Boks’ Australasia tour during the Rugby Championship, which starts with a Test against Australia on 8 September.

However, if Nkosi requires the full 12 weeks of rehabilitation, he may only be available for the Boks’ final match against the All Blacks at Loftus on 6 October.

In the absence of Nkosi, it’s likely that Makazole Mapimpi will be a frontrunner to occupy a starting berth for the Boks.

Photo: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP