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Bok injuries: The good and the bad

Cape Town - Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts brought a little book with him to Monday's press conference in Durban to ensure that he didn't leave anybody out when giving his injury report. 

That shows how serious the situation is currently for the Boks, but it wasn't all doom and gloom. 

The Boks take on Argentina at King's Park on Saturday and there are few guys in line for dramatic returns to the setup including Jean de Villiers and Pieter-Steph du Toit. 

Here is a list of the players that Roberts spoke about on Monday. 

VICTOR MATFIELD

"His hamstring strain is doing really well but he won't be ready for the first game (against Argentina)."

JP PIETERSEN

"Has also got a hamstring (strain) and he may be ready for the second game depending on how he progresses this week."

JANNIE DU PLESSIS

"Jannie, as we reported, has a medial knee ligament strain. He won’t be available this weekend either."

FRANCOIS LOUW

"Has got a rotator cuff tear ... he injured his shoulder and will miss both Argentinean games but he should be fit for the World Cup."

DUANE VERMEULEN, COENIE OOSTHUIZEN AND FRANS STEYN"Duane is doing well with his neck, Coenie with his neck and Frans Steyn with his pec strain … so those are our long term (injuries) at the moment."

VINCENT KOCH, WARREN WHITELEY AND TREVOR NYAKANE

We have quite a few guys who we need to make calls on during the week. Vincent Koch with a rib cartilage problem and Warren Whiteley with a rib cartilage problem. Trevor Nyakane has tweaked his back a little bit."

MARCEL COETZEE

"Had that knock to his knee. He’s trained really well, he trained today (Monday) … we’ll see how he gets through the training and make a decision for the weekend but he’s looking good for the weekend.”

PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT

"Pieter-Steph played his first game for the Sharks on the weekend and the feedback is that it went really well well. We're happy with him at the moment. He’s had a full training session so if he gets through the week he will be available for the weekend."

JEAN DE VILLIERS

"The same thing. Really happy with what he’s done in terms of game time and if he gets through the training he will be available the weekend."

HANDRE POLLARD

"Handre passed the head injury assessment during the game and immediately after, but then two days later there were signs of what we called delayed concussion. So we will only know later in the week, after further tests are carried out, whether he will be available for selection."

FOURIE DU PREEZ

"A similair boat. He had a full training session this week. But the test for him will be how he responds to the training load but he may potentially be ready."

JAN SERFONETIN

"Will also be ready coming back from that knee and that hip problem."

STEVEN KITSHOFF

"Had that medial knee ligament strain. Did a full session today so also looking good for the weekend."

WILLEM ALBERTS

"He's actually looking good, we've been building up Willem for the last couple of weeks. The plan is if he gets through a good training week this week is to potentially be available for the weekend."

FRANS MALHERBE

"He injured his hip. He's got a little tear in the cartilage in his hip and a little bit of a bone bruise. For him ... we ran him today (Monday) and we'll know tomorrow (Tuesday) if he's available for the weekend."

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