South Africa have suffered a blow ahead of Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia with forward enforcer Bakkies Botha ruled out through injury.
The Springboks fear the Achilles injury, which has been hampering him before being reaggravated in a training mishap on Wednesday, will end the bullocking second-rower’s tournament.
Botha had been earmarked to return for the knockout clash at Wellington’s Cake Tin but his absence has allowed in-form Danie Russouw to stay at lock and partner Victor Matfield.
Even without the 2007 World Cup winner’s 76-Test experience, coach Peter de Villiers still named the most experienced Springboks team in history on Thursday morning with a combined 836 Test caps.
De Villiers stuck with skipper John Smit at hooker ahead of the rampant Bismarck du Plessis and also selected winger JP Pietersen who must pass a fitness test on a knee ligament strain.
The other notable change, in one of three from the 13-5 pool win over Samoa was the dumping of prop Tendai Mtawarira, while inside centre Jean de Villiers takes back his No.12 jersey from the injured Frans Steyn.
Renowned as one of the most physical and damaging players in the world, Botha’s experience and muscle will be missed against the Wallabies.
De Villiers claimed the 32-year-old had overcome his existing Achilles problem but twinged his hamstring during the first lineout of training on Wednesday, triggering an awkward landing.
“He was fine to go, it was just one of those accidents you get,” the coach said. “He wasn’t well supported (by lifters) when he came down and about seven tonnes of weight on that foot, and that was the result.
“It was the worst part of my day yesterday.
“It was a sad day for myself and for Bakkies too. It might mean that his tournament will be over too.
“To look at his face last night was not the best thing to do.”
The Springboks will wait until after the quarter-final against the Tri Nations champions before deciding to bring a replacement over.
South Africa: Patrick Lambie, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Gurthro Steenkamp. Res: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Gio Aplon.
damien la marque
Guest
To all you South Africans who doubt our springboks they have played well to get to the playoffs Smit is the best captain in the world they have all served our country well I have no doubt they will do it again this is a good team
Touko
Guest
20 points? 2 points if we're lucky. I'm about as confident we'll win as I was before the Irish match, but at least we've got all of our first choice players except for Benn Robinson. Unluckily for the Boks they can't say the same, though they've still got a great team. If we should lose there won't be any good excuses (just bad ones, like that Bryce Lawrence screwed us).
Rusty
Roar Guru
I actually think he was wasted against fiji at 9 - he really does a lot of damage down the flank and his positional play is top notch. So either start him on the wing and lose the cover from the bench or unleash him later on when the defence has tired and he can really wreak havoc...
Rusty
Roar Guru
Alberts is better as a super sub - he goes missing if he plays a full 80. For once I would say our bench is looking very god
TembaVJ
Guest
Will Sinclair.... "Some great news for the Wallabies in this team: – Habana on the wing" You are right until Habanna intercepts one of Coopers back-flick-dont-know-where-thats-going passes and scores...
johnnoo
Roar Pro
Wow all the stars are aligning with Australia comparatively more so than south africa. but 2 days to go we may get some freak injureis in next 2 days and lose key players. But South Africa have big casuality list high quality players out. Frans Steyn massive loss he has best long ranage tactical kicking game in world, in RWC cup style format he would be my no1 fullback in world rugby. And big man to, 6'3 good defender,good passer, good under pressure. Juan Smith high quality Bakkies Botha physical hard man of the team like our horwill or vickerman Andries Bekker maybe better than matfield now certainly would of been good back up and better running game than vic would of been very handy in this team big man. Bismark Du plessis (best hooker in the world on the bench for smite what a joke) he saved them versus wales And best on bench probaly should of started to. So South Africa losing key players to injuries and selection issues. If all these players were in starting 15 or not out injured i would back south africa, but they are not so i think Australia can win. Losing Frans Steyn and juan smith and bismark on the bench is far more damaging to south africa, than us losing drew mitchell or Palu or not having totally match fit TPN but TPN should be getting fitter now to. So Aussies to win just.
thesportsguy
Guest
he was their most dynamic back. great passer, solid kicking game, and blinding speed around the fringes. why he doesnt start is beyond me.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Hougard is the best player in the Boks side along with Brussow. Im glad they dont give him 80 minutes. Its less time he has to win them the game.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Bakkies is a big loss. The weather will be a factor to how the game is played. If it's windy and wet then Bakkies raw power would have been a massive advantage to the Bok's. Steyn and Botha are two key men in the Bok side. Steyn for his kicking option and Bakiies for the grunt he delivers to the scrum and the tight work. The Boks will be hoping for wind and rain, those Morne steyn bombs will cause Beale trouble all night
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Ahhh yes we can do without one lf the dirtiest bullies/players in world rugby ding donh da Bakkies is neutered for a while at least and blessed
thesportsguy
Guest
anybody else think that starting houugard instead of du preez makes the boks more dangerous?! he was phenomenal v fiji.
Brett McKay
Guest
reports floating around that Bakkies Botha is actually heading home...
Bob
Guest
Beast and B.Du Plessis not even starting?? They are not even picking their 2 best scrummagers.
ny ben
Guest
Botha adds a lot to the Bok pack.....against England last year he was huge in blowing the english pack off the pitch. Its a big loss. Australia now have advantage right across the paddock. If we can win our own ball we are in it.
thesportsguy
Guest
me either pots. we dont do sarcasm around here!!!! its cheap and lame humor!! :)
Justin
Guest
No great loss to the Boks, Bakkies well past his prime. Frans Steyn was a massive loss however and could cost the Boks the win as Jean DV is seriously out of form.
Justin
Guest
Agree re Spies - much over rated. Looks a world beater a couple of matches a year and that's it.
Brett McKay
Guest
you're not fooling me, Pots...
Derm
Roar Guru
Wallabies by 20 now at least. Should be a walk in the park for them now .....
Loftus
Guest
This is a flippen nightmare,can't believe this happened.Oh wait,I actually can believe this happened. Whatever some people say about Bakkies,he is the reason why the Boks have a dominant pack of forwards and was absolutely vital for the game against the Wallabies.While Rossouw is also brilliant,he is not quite as physical as Bakkies,plus,our bench without Rossouw is in tatters.A huge setback following the injury of Frans Steyn (not to mention Juan Smit and Andries Bekker out before the tournament) and this is definately advantage to the Wallabies.Oh well,these things happen,only thing left for me to do on Sunday is to drink myself into a coma. Very disapointing. At least the Aussies will stop blaming/accusing Lawrence when they win.