Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has said that Springbok captain Jean de Villiers is still an injury concern and that a final decision on his availability for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Pretoria next week. Meyer said he would know only at the end of today whether the likes of Damian de Allende, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe and Tendai Mtawarira. The Springboks are in camp in Johannesburg this week and will meet again at the beginning of next week in Pretoria……..

Meyer has conceded that the Springboks first outing in the Rugby Championship against Argentina will be a tough assignment for his troops as most of them are not as battle hardened with many of them having been injured and missing out on the Incoming series in June. While the injuries afforded players some sown time Meyer said that it was not the ideal way and that he is hoping that his team can get some continuity from the June Test into the Rugby Championship…..

Meyer says there are a few areas of concern that his team will need to work on this week and that the scrums and the tactical kicking of his team will need to be urgently addressed ahead of the Rugby Championship…..

With the South African teams not contesting the Super Rugby final last week and the Sharks being the only representative in the play-offs two weeks ago, Meyer feels that his team won’t be as battle hardened and confident as the Australians and New Zealanders in the championship. However, Meyer believes that the positive of not having teams in the Super Rugby finals is that his players are a lot fresher after two to three weeks of no rugby action……

Meyer also tried to explain his 30-man squad he has selected for the Rugby Championship saying that the door to the national team was still wide open for Coenie Oosthuizen, Siya Kolisi and Johan Goosen who failed to make the squad…..

Amongst the many concerns that Meyer has lamented since taking over the reins of the national team two years ago, the lack of number five lock is still causing Meyer sleepless nights. With Victor Matfield being the only recognized number five lock in the squad, Meyer says they will have to settle with the likes of Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth as Matfield’s deputies……Journalist: Vata Ngobeni