Botha loss huge blow for Boks, says Smit

CAPTAIN John Smit admits the tournament-ending injury sustained by prop BJ Botha will impact on South Africa’s hopes of winning the World Cup.

Botha has been ruled out of the remainder of the competition after damaging knee ligaments in the first half of Sunday’s 64-15 win over the United States.

The Sharks front-row forward has been replaced by Jannie Du Plessis, who will link up with the Springboks in France on Wednesday or Thursday.

Botha is first choice for the Boks - he started in the 36-0 win over England, South Africa’s biggest game of the tournament so far - and Smit admits his fellow front-rower will be missed.

“We’ll be hard-pressed to replace him with someone who can work as hard,” said the skipper.

“Anyone who has seen him play sees the disruption he causes in the scrum and he makes lots of tackles a game.”

The Springboks also received a scare when star winger Bryan Habana was forced off in the second half of Sunday’s game following a clash of heads with Eagles wide man Takudzwa Ngwenya.

The Blue Bull received stitches to his head wound and will be available for next weekend’s quarter-final against Fiji.

The Springboks scored a total of nine tries on Sunday, Jaque Fourie getting a brace like Habana, with Schalk Burger, Francois Steyn, Van der Linde, Fourie du Preez and Juan Smith also touching down.

Coach Jake White saw Fiji emerge as his side’s next opponent after they surprised Wales in the Pool B eliminator in Nantes on Saturday.

The second half of the draw is opening up nicely for the Springboks, with Australia, New Zealand, England and France in the other section.

Argentina are likely to be South Africa’s next opponents – presuming Fiji are dispatched, but White is not taking anything for granted.

“The reality is it’s the play-offs, and Saturday proved that if you take your eye off the ball, you can end up losing,” he said.

“We knew we had to win four pool games and three play-off games.

“We still might have to play New Zealand, Australia or England but we shouldn’t start worrying about that yet. This week it is about Fiji.”