Star South Africa scrum-half Fourie du Preez will miss the Rugby Championship because of an ankle injury.

A South African Rugby Union statement said the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winner would be sidelined for at least three months.

Du Preez was injured early in a 55-6 rout of Scotland on Saturday. The worst fears of coach Heyneke Meyer were realized Tuesday.

Northern Bulls' Francois Hougaard replaced Du Preez in the Scotland Test.

Du Preez is among six 2013 Springboks ruled out of the Rugby Championship by injury.

The others are centre Jaque Fourie, locks Flip van der Merwe and Pieter Steph du Toit and loose forwards Arno Botha and Pierre Spies.

South Africa host the Argentine Pumas on August­ 16 in the first round of the southern hemisphere championship.­