Cheetahs captain Oupa Mohoje faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in their 38-0 defeat to Munster.

The flank had to be stretchered off in the 14th minute of the match and has since returned home.

‘Oupa was injured quite seriously in the game,’ Cheetahs coach Franco Smith told OFM. ‘We will only have a full confirmation after the medical scans.

‘He might be out of commission for a very long time, but we will only have a clear picture once he has seen the doctor back home.’

Flank Gerhard Olivier has been called up to replace Mohoje in the squad. The Cheetahs scrumhalf Shaun Venter will take over the captaincy in Mohoje’s absence.

The injury will come as a massive blow to Smith’s team which is already spread thin due to their participation in the Pro14 and Currie Cup.

The Cheetahs’ next Pro14 match is against the Ospreys in Swansea on Saturday.

Photo:  Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images