Rugby Championship
Springboks lose Matfield for Argentina Test
ESPN Staff
August 5, 2014
Victor Matfield will sit out South Africa's game agaist Argentina © Getty Images
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South Africa will be without Victor Matfield for their Rugby Championship opener and could also lose skipper Jean de Villiers to injury.

Matfield has torn a cartilage in his knee and visited a specialist in Pretoria who confirmed he will miss their match against Argentina on August 16. Springboks doctor Craig Roberts said: "Victor's injury will initially be treated conservatively and a decision on his further participation in the competition will be made during the course of next week."

And the Boks could also be without De Villiers who is still battling back to fitness from the knee injury he picked up in May. "We'll only know at a later stage if Jean will be ready to face Argentina next week in Pretoria," said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. "In Victor's case, we will have to call up a short-term replacement, which we'll announce as soon as possible.

"Jean is our captain and one of the most experienced players in the squad. We'll give him as much time as possible to recover; however, replacement cover can be called up if he is ruled out of the Test at Loftus Versfeld."

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