Springbok back Francois Steyn is expected to get on a plane to South Africa today and will want to quickly forget his trip to Dunedin.
He appears to be headed for a long stint on the sidelines, and his prospects of wearing the Springbok jersey this year appear slim.
Steyn left the field early in the second half on Saturday night when playing for the Sharks against the Highlanders, hobbling off with what looked like a serious lower leg injury.
He was in considerable pain and was eventually taken to Dunedin Hospital where his right leg was operated on at 1.15am on Sunday.
He then spent a couple of days in hospital before being discharged yesterday.
The Sharks team and management left on Sunday for Brisbane and Steyn could not be contacted yesterday to disclose the extent of his injury.
A report out of South Africa yesterday said his leg was not broken but he was in considerable pain.
Sharks coach John Plumtree feared straight after the match that the Springbok back, who played centre against the Highlanders, had broken his leg.
Steyn was discharged from Dunedin Hospital yesterday and is expected to start the long haul back to Durban today.
Steyn, who turns 26 next Tuesday, has played 53 times for the Springboks since debuting as a 19-year-old in 2006.
He won the World Cup in 2007 but a shoulder injury forced him out of the 2011 event in New Zealand.
He has returned to the Sharks fulltime this season after spending three years playing club rugby in France. The Sharks have suffered a shocking run with more than a full XV hit by injury.
Meanwhile, a decision is expected today on whether Highlanders back Phil Burleigh will travel to South Africa.
Burleigh had a scan on his injured shoulder on Monday but it was inconclusive and more information was sought.
He picked up the injury in the later stages of the match against the Sharks and was left behind on Sunday when the Highlanders travelled to South Africa.
If he is not fit, utility back Trent Renata will fly to South Africa instead.
The Highlanders are basing themselves in Johannesburg for the two weeks they are in South Africa and will travel to Port Elizabeth to play the Kings the day before the game.
They play the Kings on Sunday morning (NZ time).
The Bulls are their other opponent in South Africa, the match in Pretoria in the early hours of May 19 (NZ time). The side will travel by bus to Pretoria on the day of the game.
