Springbok hopeful Juarno Augustus sidelined by ankle injury

The 28-year-old No. 8, who has impressed for the Irish outfit since making the move from Northampton Saints, picked up the injury in the second half of their derby clash against Connacht in Galway last weekend.

Augustus sustained ankle ligament damage and Ulster confirmed he will be sidelined for at least couple of weeks.

"He's going to see someone about it on Friday," Ulster head coach Richie Murphy told the BBC. "We're not sure exactly on the timeline, but yeah we won't be seeing him over the next couple of weeks.

"It gives him an opportunity then to retrain himself and get himself nice and fit and come back fighting bigger and stronger hopefully."

Augustus has long been viewed as a Springbok-in-waiting.

A former Junior Bok and regularly tipped as a potential successor to Duane Vermeulen, the powerful No. 8 - nicknamed "Trokkie" or "Truck" - has built a reputation as a strong ball-carrier and physical defender, first with the Stormers and Western Province, then in a Premiership-winning spell at Northampton Saints, and more recently with Ulster in the URC.

While he has consistently delivered at club level and has been invited to several Springbok alignment squads, injuries and timing have so far stalled his senior international breakthrough.