Nathan White played for the Chiefs before moving to provincial rugby © Getty Images

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Connacht prop Nathan White will miss Ireland's autumn Test series after rupturing a tendon in his upper arm in training with Joe Schmidt's squad.

New Zealand-born White faces surgery next week and could now be sidelined for as long as four months.

The tighthead was lined up for his international debut against South Arica next weekend. His absence further drains Ireland's already stretched front-row resources.

White, 33, had been expected to play understudy to Mike Ross throughout the autumn series, with Marty Moore already out for three months after shoulder surgery.

Now head coach Schmidt and Ireland will be pinning hopes on Leinster's experienced front-rower Ross recovering from groin trouble to shore up Ireland's scrum.

Ross, a cornerstone of Leinster's scrum, is expected to return to full training next week. With White the latest star to lengthen Ireland's injury list, his return gains even greater importance.

The big-scrummaging Springboks would have looked to take on Ireland's set-piece even if the Aviva Stadium hosts were at full strength up front next weekend.

White's absence, allied to Moore's shoulder surgery, leaves Ireland short of experience at tighthead for the South Africa clash.

Schmidt had admitted he promoted White into the squad for his potential debut on the strength of his lengthy top-level club career, expecting him to handle Test intensity better than several promising but young and raw prospects.

Now Schmidt must draw on Connacht's versatile front-rower Rodney Ah You and Munster's Stephen Archer as potential understudies to Ross.

Former schoolteacher Schmidt should at least be able to call on Jack McGrath at loosehead prop as he aims to step up his return from injury, offsetting somewhat Cian Healy's long-term absence.

Ireland will still be shorn of at least 15 stars for the visit of Heyneke Meyer's Springboks, however, before entertaining Georgia and then Australia across the three-Test Guinness series.