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Matfield 'near' full fitness

Taupo - South African team doctor Craig Roberts says Victor Matfield is close to fully recovering from a hamstring strain for the Rugby World Cup match against Namibia in Auckland on Thursday.

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Roberts said he was "very happy" with the progress of the 108-cap lock.

"We're not going to rush him back. Obviously it's a long tournament and we want to make sure he's at his best for that," Roberts said.

Backs Jean de Villiers (rib), Bryan Habana (knee) and Butch James (hip), who were all hurt in the opening 17-16 win over Wales and missed the 49-3 defeat of Fiji, will be reassessed this week.

Roberts said there were no new injuries from the win over Fiji on Saturday in Wellington.

The Springboks play Namibia on Thursday at North Harbour Stadium.

Backs coach Dick Muir was satisfied with the way the team downed Fiji with six tries, three more than it managed over all four Tri-Nations matches.

"We went into this campaign a little underdone and we wanted to show some steady improvement," Muir said. "It's a tournament where you build up momentum and you want to continue with that. We've had two very physical hit-outs and I expect it's going to be exactly the same against Namibia, and following that Samoa."

Reserve back Ruan Pienaar said Namibia deserved praise for playing positive rugby.

"They try to play a good brand of rugby. They're willing to throw the ball around a little bit," Pienaar said. "They have lost their first two games but have really been positive in the way they've played. They are asking a lot of question of the defense. It's going to be a good challenge."

South Africa will name its line-up on Tuesday.

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