The Springbok rugby camp, already taking plenty of heat over their disappointing Tri-Nations rugby campaign, were given a few more headaches on Monday when it was revealed a number of star players are carrying injuries ahead of Saturday's Test match here against Australia.

The Boks have won just one out of five Tri-Nations matches this season and face the Wallabies here this weekend coming off 19-0 and 27-15 defeats to New Zealand and Australia respectively.

It is the first time the Springboks have suffered consecutive Tri-Nations defeats on home soil.

Winger JP Pietersen was Monday ruled out of the match this weekend because of a hamstring strain, while hooker Bismarck du Plessis, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana are also on the border of missing out this weekend.

Du Plessis injured his right knee in Durban last weekend and is, according to Bok team management, in doubt for this weekend's match. Matfield is nursing a groin strain and his availability will only be determined later this week.

The good news for the Boks though is that winger Habana (shoulder) should be fit to start this weekend. He missed the Wallabies match in Durban because of an injured shoulder.

Coastal Sharks wing Odwa Ndungane has joined the team in place of Pietersen and is expected to start in the No 14 jersey in the second of the back-to-back Tests against the Wallabies.

The Boks were still awaiting news on tighthead prop CJ van der Linde, who was to appear before a disciplinary committee on Monday after his head-butting of Australia halfback Sam Cordingly last Saturday.

Were the World Cup winning prop be ruled out of action due to suspension, Bok coach De Villiers indicated Jannie du Plessis would in all likelihood be called up to the squad.

The Wallabies meanwhile will be joined by veteran lock Nathan Sharpe this week.

Sharpe was left out of the initial tour party, but following the shoulder injury to Dan Vickermann at the weekend, Deans was forced to call in a replacement.

Centre Berrick Barnes has also been ruled out of this weekend's match, also because of a shoulder injury.

The Australia team were also still awaiting news on flanker Rocky Elsom, who also had to appear at a hearing on Monday after being charged with playing Bok captain Matfield in the air last weekend.

AFP

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