Matfield and de Villiers out for Fiji match

South Africa will be without centre Jean de Villiers and second row Victor Matfield for their 17 September Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool D match against Fiji in Wellington, while second row Bakkies Botha is again in doubt.

Team doctor Craig Roberts said a rib cartilage strain that forced de Villiers to leave the field during Sunday night's match against Wales will keep him sidelined for 10 days or so, while Matfield's troublesome hamstring tightened up during the match and will also keep him out for the same period.

Dr Roberts said Botha's persistent achilles tendinosis was still a concern and his return date was less certain.

"He hasn't responded as well as we anticipated. We are still working on it and we haven't made a decision in terms of how we're going to continue with him at this stage," Dr Roberts said.

Asked when he will have to make a call about seeking a replacement for Botha, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers was less than optimistic.

"Sooner than later," he said.

Wing Bryan Habana had some hamstring soreness in training sessions before the Wales match, but de Villiers said his replacement by reserve scrum half Francois Hougaard early in the second half was a tactical rather than a fitness decision.

"It worked for us last night, definitely," de Villiers said, after Hougaard scored the winning try in South Africa's 17-16 defeat of Wales.