Prop concerns for Springboks

South Africa have hit prop problems in the build-up to Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against Fiji at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

BJ Botha was ruled out of the tournament after suffering knee ligament damage during South Africa’s 64-15 Pool A victory over the United States last Sunday.

And Botha’s fellow tighthead CJ van der Linde is suffering from a bruised right knee that required hospital scans following the Springboks’ first training session after arriving in Marseille from Montpellier.

Botha’s replacement Jannie du Plessis is due to join the squad later today.

But Springboks coach Jake White must now monitor Van der Linde, who is being treated by South Africa’s medical team.

White said: “CJ got a bang on his knee. We are hoping it is a recurrence of a bruise from the weekend.

“We are hoping Jannie will be here at lunchtime, and we will get straight into it.”

Prop Os du Randt added: “Suddenly losing two of our best tightheads is always a concern.

“But injury is part of the game, and we have to adapt and make the best of a sad story.”