Bad news for Springboks, good news for Cheetahs as Frans Steyn's 'old knees' buckle

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie indulged in a classic good news-bad news routine on Thursday over the state of Frans Steyn's fitness.

The bad news is that the 35-year-old veteran utility back won't be eligible for Springbok selection on their year-end tour to Europe, which commences next month.

But the central franchise should be able to bank on his vast experience when they commence their European Challenge Cup campaign in December, where they'll be based in Italy.

Steyn is nursing a knee injury that will keep him out of action for between four and six weeks, though that blow is at least partially softened by the fact that he won't require surgery.

Cheetahs

15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Friedle Olivier, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Cameron Dawson

Substitutes: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Andell Loubser

Griquas

15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Raegan Oranje, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Michael Amiras, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube

Substitutes: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Thando Ndimande, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Vaughen Isaacs

"Frans has a bit of a bone bruise and a tear to his meniscus," Fourie said ahead of his side's Toyota Challenge derby with Griquas on Friday evening.

"Conservatively, six weeks takes us into the end of November,