Boks unscathed after Fiji

Taupo - In contrast to their opening match of the Rugby World Cup, the Springboks picked up no injuries in their 49-3 victory over Fiji, team doctor Craig Robberts confirmed on Sunday.

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"It is not often that I can sit after a physical game like that and report no injuries from the game," said Roberts.

"We are quite happy, from the sideline it was quite a physical game and, apart from the normal bumps and bruises, we got away clean which is nice from an injury perspective."

There were, however, concerns that lock Bakkies Botha had been replaced because of the Achilles (foot) injury he had been suffering from prior to the match.

But Roberts denied that the secondrower was forced to leave the field.

"The plan with Bakkies was always for him to play 40 minutes, we were always going to make the sub and bring Willem (Alberts) on after halftime," he said.

As for wing Bryan Habana (knee), lock Victor Matfield (hamstring), flyhalf Butch James (hip flexor), centre Jean de Villiers (rib) and Johann Muller (hamstring), Roberts said that an assessment would be made at Tuesday’s training session.

He did give an update on Victor Matfield’s recovery.

"Victor has done really well, He did a lot of intensive rehabilitation last week and that is what he really needed to do.

"We are very happy with his progress, obviously it is a very long tournament and we want to make sure that he is at his best for that." Early indications are that all players that are carrying injuries will not be risked for Thursday’s match against Namibia.

South Africa are expected to give players who have not yet taken part in the tournament a chance in their so-called dirt track match at the North Harbour stadium in Auckland.