Boks sweat over injured stars

The Springboks, buoyed by the news that centre Francois Steyn had been cleared on a biting charge, will spend the next few days sweating over the injuries of other key players.

The Springboks, one of the tournament favourites, will play their last pool match when they face the United States at Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, on Sunday.

South Africa, the 1995 champions and second favourites behind the All Blacks to win the 2007 title, have already wrapped up top spot in Pool A and will face either Wales or Fiji in the quarter-finals.

Bok coach Jake White has revealed that he is likely to be without the services of injured players like scrum-half Enrico Januarie (shoulder), number eight Bobby Skinstad (foot), utility forward Danie Rossouw (neck) and lock Johann Muller (calf) on Sunday.

Centre Jaque Fourie also missed training on Tuesday because of flu, but he is expected to be cleared.

The injuries of Skinstad and Rossouw leaves the coach with a major headache, as he is very thin in terms of loose forward resources.

When number eight Pierre Spies was ruled out through a lung illness before the tournament he was replaced with an extra hooker.

That left him with Schalk Burger, Rossouw, Skinstad, Juan Smith and Wikus van Heerden as his specialist loose forwards.

With Rossouw and Skinstad out, Burger - back from a two-match ban - will start at number eight. Van Heerden and Smith will be on the flanks.

Albert van den Berg, who was scheduled to start on the flank last week till Muller was ruled out with an injury, will cover loose forward and second row from the bench as there are no other options left. Hooker Bismark du Plessis are likely to provide extra loose forward cover if needed.

Meanwhile White confirmed on Tuesday that winger Akona Ndungane will get his first start of the World Cup against the United States in Montpellier on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Bulls player will feature against the Eagles after the winger shrugged off fears over a longstanding rib injury.

"I have been waiting since the tournament started and I am happy that I am getting the chance to play on Sunday," said Ndungane.

"The injury is doing very well. I've been doing rehab and training hard, working with the physios and medical staff and they are happy with it so I am ready to go.

"Ever since we came here we have always said that it is going to take the whole 30 players to win this tournament and no one is better than another person," said Ndungane.

"It has worked well for us, to know that each player is just as important as the other and we just hope that we can carry it through."

White, whose gamble on playing a second-string side against Tonga in Lens last weekend almost backfired in an unconvincing 30-25 win, said that it was part of his plan to give all of his 30 players an opportunity.

"Akona will get a chance. That's part of what I said that everyone will play in the World Cup and I think it's only fair. You can't expect him to hold a tackle bag for the next couple of weeks so he will play against America."

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