Cheetahs captain Juan Smith will miss the rest of the Super rugby season but could play for the Springboks at the Rugby World cup.

The Bok flank had surgery on his Achilles on Monday after he injured it playing in the Cheetahs second round clash against the Bulls.

Expert opinion is that the Cheetahs captain will be fit again in six months and should be able to resume playing rugby in August.

Initial fears were that the Springbok would miss the whole of the world cup and this year’s Super rugby campaign.

The Springboks start their Rugby World cup campaign against Wales in September the 11th.

Smith will however miss most of the TriNations and could miss the fitness deadline for the rugby world cup squad announcement.

Cheetahs team doctor Ian Morris said that the operation was a success and that things are looking encouraging for the Bok.

“We are planning on having him fit for the World Cup,” said Morris who assisted in the operation.

“There is definitely a chance that he can recover in time.”

“If everything goes well, six months is not an unreasonable recovery period.” he said.

“He will be able to play in August and the World Cup starts at the beginning of September.”

Meanwhile the Cheetahs are expected to hold off on naming Heinrich Brussow for this weekend’s match against the Stormers but he is likely for their next match.

Frans Viljoen who went off with a hamstring injury against the Bulls was expected to miss around a month of rugby but he is now expected to miss around a week.