Willie le Roux's URC final hopes hang in the balance after failing HIA

The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok is a serious doubt for the URC Grand Final against Glasgow Warriors in Pretoria on Saturday after he left the field in the Bulls' 25-20 victory against the Irish province with a head injury.

This, after the 34-year-old went for a HIA (head injury assessment), following a dangerous hit from Leinster second-row Joe McCarthy in the 55th minute, which he failed.

If Le Roux does not recover in time for the final, it will be the third time in as many weeks that Bulls will lose a Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok to injury after Canan Moodie (hand) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (cheekbone) were also injured in their recent victories over the Sharks and Benetton.

"It's not just an HIA, he got whacked on his neck as well," Bulls boss Jake White revealed after Saturday's match. "We've also got to go and check and see how his neck is from an injury perspective.

"It's obviously not great because we've also Canan and Kurt-Lee out - [it seems like if] you're picked for the Boks and play in the World Cup you don't get to play for the Bulls every week."

Le Roux was playing very well before he got injured. His excellent kicking out of hand caused Leinster several problems while he also slotted in nicely as a second playmaker on some occasions.

"He was outstanding," said White. "To be fair, people underestimate his value [but] just from the way he talks on the field, and those kicks he did at the back there. But let's see [what happens], I didn't think with the back-three we had we'd be as good today.

"So, opportunity comes next week for someone else, hopefully we'll be able to put someone in his place if he's not available. You don't want to play someone with a head injury - I've got kids, you don't want to push guys into that situation - but who knows, maybe tomorrow it's the neck that's sore and when it heals, he'll be fine for HIA protocols.

"But I'm not banking on that."

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