Auckland: Captain John Smit will be rested for South Africa's final World Cup group match against Samoa and lock Bakkies Botha could join him on the sidelines after suffering another injury, coach Peter de Villiers said yesterday.
The Springboks lead Pool D after victories over Wales, Fiji and Namibia and are heavy favourites to win the group at the North Harbour Stadium in Albany on Friday and set up a probable quarter-final against Tri-Nations champions Australia.
The World Cup holders could even win the pool with a loss against Samoa, depending on other results, meaning De Villiers could afford to rest some of his other first-team players and not just hooker Smit.
"The one thing I can tell you today is that Bissie [Bismark du Plessis] will start. John needs a rest," De Villiers told reporters after a children's coaching clinic in Taupo.
"He's like Duracell [batteries] at the moment, he just keeps on going. Not that he squeals, but I have to manage him too."
Botha injured his Achilles before the World Cup and missed the opening 17-16 victory over Wales, returned for the 49-3 win over Fiji, but hobbled from the field as the Springboks thrashed Namibia 87-0 in Albany on Thursday.
"He's a worry at the moment. I don't think that Bakkies is where I want him to be," De Villiers said. "He's such a valuable player in our side but a 90 per cent Bakkies won't be good enough. He'll have to be 100 per cent. He's in doubt for Samoa. We'll be guided by the medical team and by Bakkies himself."
Second row Victor Matfield (hamstring) and centre Jean De Villiers (sore ribs) also a concern.
