Springboks are still wary of Fiji threat

Fiji will have the chance to rewrite the ending of their last encounter with South Africa at a Rugby World Cup when the two sides meet again in Pool D of RWC 2011 at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday, 17 September.

"Momentarily tense" is how the 37-20 quarter-final victory by the Springboks four years ago in Marseille is now described by South Africa's media management, but their players involved still shudder when they recall how close Fiji came to tipping them out of the World Cup tournament that they went on to win.

Nine of South Africa's starting XV this time around played in that match, which guarantees there will be no complacency on South Africa's part when the two sides meet in Wellington.

One round in to the 2011 tournament and South Africa already have injury concerns, losing centres Butch James (hip flexor) and Jean de Villiers (rib cartilage), plus wing Bryan Habana (knee tendon) and second row Victor Matfield (hamstring). Second row Johann Muller also lost his place on the bench on Friday after a hamstring injury failed to clear up.

Play through pain

There was some relief for South Africa coach Peter de Villiers when abrasive veteran second row Bakkies Botha was passed fit for selection after missing the opening pool match against Wales with persistent achilles tendonosis, but it remains to be seen whether he will get through, despite his determination to play through any pain.

"I'll still feel a little bit of stiffness, but it's like that old farm vehicle in the morning - it smokes a bit but, when you drive it, after an hour, it's hot and it can go," Botha joked at a press conference on Thursday, before adding more seriously: "I truly believe that when you pull on the green and gold jersey you must give 100 per cent and that's what I'm going to give. If my heel's not going to make it, it's not going to make it. If it lasts for 80 minutes, it lasts for 80 minutes."

The injury list forced de Villiers to innovate in selecting his 22, with Frans Steyn moving from full back to inside centre and the bench players covering multiple positions.

In other changes from the team that played Wales in round one, 20-year-old Pat Lambie starts at full back, Odwa Ndungane replaces Habana on the wing, Gurthrö Steenkamp is promoted from the bench at loosehead prop at the expense of Tendai Mtawarira and centre Juan de Jongh comes on to the bench as an additional back replacement after South Africa reverted to the standard 4-3 split between forwards and backs.

For their part, Fiji made three changes to the forward pack that beat Namibia 49-25, bringing in European-based players in hooker Sunia Koto (Narbonne) and back rowers Akapusi Qera (Gloucester) and Sakiusa Matadigo (Montpellier).

Speed and athleticism

But their plan will still be to play 'Fiji style' - move the ball around and use the skills of their fast, athletic players at every opportunity.

"I guess one of our strengths as the 'Flying Fijians' is to keep the ball in hand and look to play rugby, really. That's not going to change regardless of our opposition and the size of them," said Fiji captain Deacon Manu.

However, Manu knows Fiji will have to be at their absolute best to beat a resolute South Africa bent on becoming the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups.

"We've got to make sure that as a forward pack that we stand up and we match them physically, mentally and tactically in all the areas if we're going to compete with them on the scoreboard," Manu said.

Fiji right wing Vereniki Goneva, the hero of their win over Namibia with four tries, needs just one more to become the outright top try-scoring Fiji player at Rugby World Cups, while reserve back Nicky Little will become Fiji's most capped RWC player if he takes the field against South Africa. He is currently level with Moses Rauluni on 11 RWC appearances.

While South Afica have the size, speed and defensive system to stymie the free-running Fiji, the sheer will to win that got the Springboks through that match in 2007 and in round one against Wales in 2011 is likely to be the most valuable weapon in their armoury.