9 Aug 2011

De Villiers concedes his side is underdone

8:11 am on 9 August 2011

The Springboks coach Peter de Villiers concedes a lack of game time for his senior players could adversely affect them in their Tri-Nations match against Australia in Durban this weekend.

South Africa recalled 15 players to their squad to contest the home leg of their Tri-Nations' campaign after fielding an inexperienced team in their opening two matches because more than 20 injured players were unavailable.

The Boks were heavily beaten in both away matches.

De Villiers says with most of his side not having played for 6 or 7 weeks, it's going to be about giving them game time.

South Africa's preparations for the Australia match received a setback when number eight Pierre Spies pulled up with a recurrence of a groin injury at training while utility forward Danie Rossouw was laid low with a dose of gastroenteritis.

Loose forwards Ryan Kankowski and Ashley Johnson will train with the Springbok squad in case Spies does not recover.