Two of South Africa’s recent members who toured with the Springboks to the Northern Hemisphere, Frik Kirsten (tighthead prop) of the Vodacom Bulls and Coenie Oosthuizen (tighthead & loosehead prop) of the Toyota Cheetahs both have serious neck injuries.

Frik Kirsten might have to undergo neck surgery but we await news of the second opinion sought to clarify the matter. It is most likely the case that he will be out of the remainder of the Super Rugby season.

Coenie Oosthuizen was sent back to South Africa from the Cheetahs tour down under and it is also likely that he will be out for a lenghty spell.

Frik Kirsten:

Supersport reports that Vodacom Bulls prop Frik Kirsten faces an uncertain 24 hours as he waits to hear about a neck injury he sustained which could be career-threatening.

Kirsten will seek a second opinion on Thursday after injuring a disc in his neck – the second time he has done this in his short career – during last weekend’s 25-17 win over the Lions at Loftus Versfeld.

While the Bulls have replaced him with stalwart Werner Kruger for this weekend’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Blues, Kirsten’s future is by no means certain as he waits for the second opinion before making a decision.

Kirsten previously had an operation to repair a neck lesion in 2009, the same year he made his debut for the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Absa Currie Cup and will definitely have to undergo an operation.

Team doctor Org Strauss said the injury was serious but that a final decision would be taken after another opinion was received.

“Frik injured a disc in his neck and will see another specialist tomorrow,” Dr Strauss told supersport.com.

“He is likely to be out for a long time, and it seems surgery is required to rectify the injury. We will wait for the opinion to be delivered, but at the moment it seems he may be out for around four months at least.”

The Bulls admitted to being worried about the long-term future of Kirsten, especially as he had become one of their rising stars after catching the eye of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer last season, and was called up to the Springbok squad on their November tour last year.

“We are very worried,” coach Frans Ludeke said at the team announcement. “It is a bad injury and with front row players and their necks, its always an injury you take notice of.

“We will await the result of the second opinion, but he is definitely out for this weekend. It sounds like he needs an operation, so he could well be out for the rest of the season, we’ll have to see.

Kirsten came through the Bulls junior ranks and has progressed well, being touted for a long international career with his powerful scrummaging.

Coenie Oosthuizen:

SuperSport also reports that Springbok Coenie Oosthuizen is heading home after a neck injury has seriously put his season – and perhaps his career – in jeopardy.

Oosthuizen is the second prop who faces such scrutiny and a possible career-threatening injury after Vodacom Bulls prop Frik Kirsten yesterday was ruled out “for at least four months” by his team’s medical staff with a damaged neck disc.

Oosthuizen is set to see a specialist on Monday to ascertain the extent of the neck injury, but initial diagnosis puts him out for at least a month, perhaps even two. There is also a worry that it will influence his chances of making the Springbok team again.

Ironically both Kirsten and Oosthuizen sustained injuries while playing tighthead, with both facing lengthy time on the sidelines.

The Cheetahs have flown out Rossouw de Klerk to Brisbane, and he should arrive in time to take his place on the bench in Friday’s game against the Reds, but the concern over Oosthuizen is likely to dominate talk in the next few weeks.

The burly prop, who played for the Springboks last year after making his debut in 2012, has had problems with his neck before, missing the England series in 2012 when he hurt it for the first time and was forced to miss most of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in that year.

Oosthuizen returned and regained his place, but injured his back before last year’s November tour to Europe, ruling him out of the trip.

He then hurt his neck in the 35-14 loss to the Melbourne Rebels last week, and went for a scan on Monday, with the team management deciding to send him home that he can recouperate.

Drotske told supersport.com Oosthuizen will see Dr Daan Hugo on Monday to ascertain the extent of the injury.

“We can’t speculate how long he is out for or how serious the injury is until he has seen the specialist. Hopefully he will be ready again in six weeks’ time.”

As expected coach Naka Drotske made three changes to the team, with former Baby Bok Maks van Dyk taking Oosthuizen’s place to get his first start in Super Rugby, while Cornal Hendricks has been dropped to the bench after a poor performance against the Rebels, with Rayno Benjamin in his place, and Willie le Roux moves to the wing from fullback to cover for the injured Raymond Rhule.

Hennie Daniller returns to his regular spot at fullback in a revamped backline that brought the team so much success last year.

As expected Johan Goosen is over his injury and will take his spot at flyhalf again.