Spies, who played his 50th test against England in Port Elizabeth in June, injured his finger in the Super 15 play-off against the Crusaders.

According to Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts, initial X-rays did not reveal any significant abnormality.

However, on review and further investigation, including a CT scan and assessment by a hand specialist in Cape Town, it was found that Spies had a fracture in the joint, said Roberts.

"Surgical correction is needed in order to prevent permanent damage," he said. "The usual rehabilitation time is eight to 12 weeks."

At this stage, Spies will not be replaced in the Springbok squad currently preparing for the opening Test against Argentina.

Spies joins four other Bok loose forwards who are currently unavailable for selection. Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow are injured, while Ryan Kankowski is not available because of club commitments in Japan.