Bakkies Botha doubtful for Wales match

South African lock Bakkies Botha has been rated doubtful for his country's opening match of the Rugby World Cup against Wales on Sunday.

The 31-year-old has been unable to recover from a long-term Achilles injury.

Coach Peter de Villiers will not announce his starting lineup until Friday and South Africa's number eight Pierre Spies has revealed that Danie Rossouw could deputise should Botha lose his fitness battle.

"Bakkies is a person you always miss, in his special way, but for us it's important to keep the routine of the team going," said Spies.

"Danie is very similar to Bakkies, so we'll just stick to the way we play, keep going with it and we won't change our plans."

Botha was part of the Springboks squad that won the Webb Ellis Cup in 2007.