Botha injury hits Boks hard

A likely tournament-ending injury to South Africa second row Bakkies Botha has stunned the Springboks squad as they prepare for Sunday's quarter-final against Australia at Wellington Regional Stadium.

Coach Peter de Villiers and captain John Smit appeared downbeat at Thursday's early-morning press conference to announce their team for Sunday, and wing Bryan Habana later admitted the mood was "a little bit emotional" in the team room.

"Bakkies had a talk to the team this morning and it did get a little bit emotional," Habana said, pausing a couple of times while speaking, apparently to compose his feelings.

"I think it is tough on the team. Whether it was tougher losing (Springbok centre) Frans Steyn, or New Zealand losing Dan Carter, it's difficult to say, but he's become a great friend, a great rugby player and the ability he had to lift this team will live in our hearts for quite a while."

The 2007 World Cup winner aggravated his achilles tendon problem during lineout practice on Wednesday when he landed heavily, ruling him out of Sunday's match and probably the tournament.

Strong character

"It’s just one of those accidents that you get - not very good support when he came down; he landed with several tonnes of weight on that foot," said de Villiers, who feared it was also the end of 32-year-old Botha's Rugby World Cup campaign and his representative career after 76 Tests for South Africa.

“To look in his face last night wasn’t the best thing to do, but that’s reality, that’s life, this is what we get and we just have to move on,” de Villiers said.

Habana added: "We've had a guy that's really given his heart to this country for the last 10 years and he's become a good friend to a lot of us.

"He's a strong character within this team, not only by the way he carries on off the field, but his ability to bring this team together on the field."

Botha's place in the side was taken by utility forward Danie Rossouw, who prop Gurthrö Steenkamp said would do an excellent job.

"We have so much depth in the side that any player just slots in," Steenkamp said.

"We are so fortunate if someone is injured, the guy who replaces him is not leaving a huge gap. It's really bad losing a guy like Bakkies, but I think we're in a really great position."