Springboks face injury crisis

South Africa face a mounting injury crisis ahead of their Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand on Saturday.

The Boks are without second-rowers Johann Muller, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Andries Bekker and Flip van der Merwe.

The side have called up the uncapped 26-year-old Natal Sharks lock Gerhard Mostert to replace Johann Muller following their defeat to Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Despite their considerable injury list, All Blacks half-back Jimmy Cowan believes that the Boks are still a threat.

"I've played a lot of rugby with them in the Super 15 and there's a core group of guys who are pretty experienced,” Cowan said. “John Smith and Ruaan Pienaar, and those guys you can't underestimate them at all."