The Springboks will be hoping that the injury to Cameron Hanekom is not too serious after he was taken off the field at halftime because of a lower back strain on Saturday.
Hanekom, who has become an integral part of the Bok bench this season, and played a growing role in the side, was substituted at halftime in the Bulls 54-26 win over Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday because he was struggling with the injury.
With the Nations Championship tour starting this week, Hanekom was pulled off the field by his coach Johan Ackermann, who did it as a precaution with the tour in mind.
Hanekom has been one of the Bulls massive stars this season and was replaced by regular captain Marcell Coetzee, the latter who scored a brace as the Bulls romped home 54-26.
After the game Ackermann said it wasn’t worth pushing Hanekom through the injury, something with the national focus in mind.
“He struggled a little bit with his lower back quite early in the game, and we asked to push him until halftime, and credit to him, he hung in there and got to halftime,” Ackermann said.
“At halftime the medical staff wanted to treat him and I just felt we don't need that. We've got Marcell, so let's just make it a straight swap, to protect him as well. So no, he's fine, but he was battling with his lower back.”
No word came from the Bok camp of a replacement, so it is assumed that he is fit enough to travel with the squad to Europe, where the Springboks will face Italy on Saturday.
The Boks have already lost stalwarts Cheslin Kolbe, Andre Esterhuizen, Handre Pollard, Deon Fourie, and Eben Etzebeth for the tour and named six debutants in their squad that will travel to Italy.
Bongi Mbonambi, who was due to play for the Stormers and would have been seen as a possible late call-up to the national squad, was pulled from the match-day squad with a hamstring strain and it is unclear when he will be back in action.
The Boks name their side to face Italy on Monday night.