Rugby World Cup 2011
Steyn suffers World Cup KO
ESPNscrum Staff
September 30, 2011
South Africa's Frans Steyn crashes across for his try, Fiji v South Africa, Rugby World Cup, Wellington Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, September 17, 2011
Frans Steyn's Rugby World Cup looks set to come to a premature end © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Frans Steyn
Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup
Teams: Samoa | South Africa

South Africa's Frans Steyn is set to be ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup with a shoulder injury.

Steyn, whose long-range goal-kicking is one of the Springboks' greatest weapons, suffered the injury during Friday's bruising Pool D victory over Samoa in North Harbour and while coach Peter de Villiers refused to be drawn on the nature of the injury following the game, he revealed this morning that the prognosis is not good.

"Frans Steyn is likely to go home," he said. "His shoulder isn't that good. The doctor will confirm it 100 percent this morning, but it's 95 percent that he's on his way home and that is a big blow for us."

De Villiers admitted that finding an adequate replacement for Steyn will be difficult. "I was lying awake on a replacement," he said. "What do we need really? That is what we have to look at now. I still have to make a few calls and see."

The Springboks coach also revealed that back-line trio Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Francois Hougaard had all picked up knocks in the game the victory that confirmed their passage through to the quarter-finals but he is hopeful that all of his wounded players will be fit for their last eight clash next weekend.

'All those guys have got battle scars, but we hope that they can recover to take their places this coming week," he said. 'I don't know what's wrong with us. When we get injuries, we get them in one position.

"We've had problems at lock (during the tournament), and yesterday (Friday) we lost three wings. So when Lady Luck turns her back on us, she turns it properly."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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