Huge blow for the Munster star.

Ireland winger Keith Earls has been ruled out for six weeks with a torn hamstring sustained in training during the week.

The Limerick native has been in excellent form for Munster this season, and was expected to start for Ireland against the Springboks this weekend.

The injury now means he will miss the entire November series, and means he is now a doubt for Munster’s crucial double-header against Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup next month.

Earls did the damage in training on Tuesday and Ireland boss Joe Schmidt admits it does come as a blow seeing that he has been in such fine form.

“He picked it up on Tuesday, and it was a surprise to him and us,” Schmidt said

“It’s a hamstring injury, and I think it’s going ot make it certainly a struggle for next week, and potentially the week after. So he will be a doubt for the series at this point.

“We’re disappointed and so is he because he was sensational for us in Japan in the summer. Not only his on-field actions but the way he led the young players, that was a another role he had fully embraced in this camp.”

Munster teammate Andrew Conway has been handed a start in Earls’ absence.