Robbie Henshaw out of third Test against South Africa with knee injury

Ireland will head into the series-deciding third Test against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday without Robbie Henshaw as the centre has returned home to take medical advice for surgery on knee cartilage.

The 23-year-old was stretchered off the field in the second half of the second Test against South Africa.

Ireland's team manager Mick Kearney has confirmed that Henshaw will be taking expert medical advice to assess the severity of his injury.

“Robbie Henshaw has returned home and will see a consultant about his knee in Dublin, just to assess the severity of his injury. Apart from Robbie, all 31 players are expected to train for the rest of the week.”

As to whether Henshaw had sustained a cartilage or ligament injury, Kearney said: “I don’t know. It’s too early to assess as this stage. He’ll go back and he’ll meet somebody, I’m sure, as soon as possible and we’ll probably know a bit more later in the week.”

Boks, who were trailing by 16 points at the end of the first half, made a remarkable recovery to score four tries in the second half and register a 32-26 victory to level the three Test series 1-1.

The implications of the injury for Leinster, where Henshaw is moving next season, are unclear.