Boks fret over Mapimpi's World Cup availability after fractured cheekbone

Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi's Rugby World Cup is in doubt after he sustained a facial injury in Sunday night's 49-18 win over Tonga in Marseille. 

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Mapimpi left the field in the 28th minute after a head clash with Tonga scrumhalf Augustine Pulu.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber confirmed afterwards that Mapimpi suffered a fractured right cheekbone and will require a scan on Monday to see the extent of the injury.

"He unfortunately has a blowout fracture of his cheekbone," Nienaber said.

"He'll probably go for specialist scans and stuff on Monday morning to determine the severity of the injury."

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The Boks, meanwhile, all but sealed a spot in the quarter-finals although there is a slim mathematical chance they could miss out.

The two teams who will advance to the quarter-finals will be decided when the world's number one ranked team Ireland - who beat the Boks last week - take on Scotland, ranked fifth, in Paris on Saturday.

A win for Ireland would see them finish in top spot and South Africa as runners-up.

However, should Scotland beat Ireland by a margin of 21 points or more, with both teams scoring four tries to earn an attacking bonus point, that would mean all three teams would finish pool play on 15 points.

That permutation would see the Scots topping the group on points difference ahead of Ireland, in second spot thanks to their better head-to-head record against the Boks, in third.