Kolbe’s knee injury puts place in Springbok team in doubt

PRETORIA : World Cup-winning wing Cheslin Kolbe has returned to training after a visit to a knee specialist but faces a race against time to be fit for South Africa’s first test against Ireland early next month.

Kolbe, a integral part of the Springbok’s winning squad at the last two World Cups, suffered a knee injury during the Japanese club season, and after consultation with the South African medical team on Sunday, was released from the Springbok training camp in Pretoria to seek a specialist opinion.

He returned on Wednesday to follow a rehabilitation programme “with an eye on possibly being available for selection for the opening test against Ireland,” a statement from SA Rugby said on Thursday.

Kolbe is not in contention for the team to take on Wales at Twickenham on June 22 in a one-off test that is South Africa’s first outing since winning the World Cup in Paris last October.

South Africa host Six Nations champions Ireland in two tests in Pretoria on July 6 and Durban on July 13.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)