Balshaw was carried off the pitch on a stretcher

The Gloucester wing underwent minor surgery on Saturday night to clean a wound and will return home on Sunday.

There is better news on the three other players injured at Vodacom Park.

Jonny Wilkinson (back) and Andy Hazell (knee) are expected to train later this week while Pat Sanderson (neck) could return to action on Monday.

Winger David Strettle, one of the victims of the stomach virus sweeping the camp, was discharged from hospital on Saturday and has rejoined the squad.

The Harlequins back had spent several days in hospital for rehydration treatment.

Fly-half Wilkinson, who has been plagued by injuries since 2003, came off with a bruised back with just seven minutes of the first Test left.

Sanderson receives treatment after injuring his neck in the first Test

Gloucester flanker Hazell failed to reappear from the half-time interval after suffering bruising to his knee and was replaced by Worcester's Sanderson.

Sanderson though, hurt his neck and went to hospital for checks but England say that it has settled well.

Balshaw's injury is the latest blow to an England squad already without more than 30 players because of injuries and club commitments before the tour had even started.

Since then Nick Wood has been ruled out with injury while Peter Richards, Andy Farrell and Strettle have been struck down by the stomach virus.

Hooker Matt Cairns was also unable to take his place on the bench for the first Test and was replaced by prop Matt Stevens at the last minute.

Gloucester centre Anthony Allen was named as a substitute but was not fit enough to take the field while club team-mate James Simpson-Daniel managed to score a consolation try despite not being at full fitness.

And Ashton will be hoping that the virus will have run its course as he begins to prepare for the second Test in Pretoria next Saturday.

South Africa reduced their squad by four players to 34.