POOL D:VETERAN HARD man Bakkies Botha will almost certainly miss South Africa's rugby World Cup opener against Wales on Sunday, with the Springboks further hurt by an injury concern over winger Brian Habana.

The 31-year-old Botha has been suffering from a chronic Achilles’ tendon problem that flared up again at training earlier this week.

“We’re a little bit worried about Bakkies, he’s our major concern,” assistant coach Dick Muir told reporters. “It’s his Achilles and being a big man he obviously takes a lot of pressure in that area.

“He’s so important for us for the remainder of the competition that we wouldn’t take any chances with Bakkies. “We’ll take it week by week, but I think he’s going to be out this week, unfortunately.” The world champions will definitely miss the starch Botha, who has described his toughest opponent as “not been born yet”, provides in their pack and at the breakdown and the aerial danger at lineouts and restarts he provides in combination with vice-captain Victor Matfield.

Danie Rossouw is likely to replace lock Botha in the starting lineup when the team is named today. Winger Habana has not taken a full part in training this week. He is tied with Joost van der Westhuizen for the most tries (38) for the Springboks and has been going through something of a drought, having not scored a try since the victory over Italy in East London in June 2010 – a run of 10 Tests.