POLL: Lood or Victor to start against Wales?

One of the biggest questions is how he intends to phase veteran lock Victor Matfield back into the team after a two-week layoff with a hamstring injury.

Based on the medical opinion offered by Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts on Sunday, it would seem Matfield is good to go and showing no signs of discomfort in training.

Yes, there is the tired cliche' " no substitute for experience", but in my humble opinion, Lood de Jager is certainly one of the form players and has struck up a very successful partnership with Eben Etzebeth in the second row.

It would be almost criminal to drop the beanpole Free Stater, who again put his body on the line in the fourth round of RWC fixtures and is among the top defenders based on the latest weekly Vodacom RWC statistics.

De Jager made 20 tackles against the US, which is only four less than Nambia's Wian Conradie, who was the top tackler of the round.

He was equally affective in his primary role as lineout jumper taking seven balls on the Springboks' throw with Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-Steph du Toit also among the top jumpers of the round with four each.

Since starting in the number 4 jumper in that ill-fated RWC opener against Japan, primarily as cover for Eben Etzebeth, who was still nursing a niggling injury, De Jager has been a standout player, even in that losing cause in Brighton.

He then stood down again for a fully fit Etzebeth against Samoa, as Etzebeth renewed his partnership with Matfield before the latter left the field injured.

Bok coach Heyneke Meyer is always talking about the importance of building continuity when it comes to selection and is equally vocal about players putting their hand up when presented with an opportunity to play.

Based on that, one can't help feeling it would be counter-productive to break the De Jager-Etzebeth partnership right now.

Even Matfield conceded on Monday that he is quite comfortable being utilised in the role as an impact player off the bench, as long as he is making a contribution to the cause.

Although he was cagey in his response, one sensed that Matfield may have already been resigned to that fate in prior discussions with coach Meyer.

Yes, one could do a lot worse than a Victor Matfield warming the bench, but I would hate to see Lood de Jager reverting back to a role as a floater and having to play second fiddle to Matfield and Etzebeth when he has made a strong statement as an automatic choice.

Heyneke Meyer - over to you.

Rugby World Cup - Fourth-round Statistics:

Points: 

1.     Greig Laidlaw (Scotland) - 26

2.     Nemani Nadolo (Fiji) - 17

        Tommaso Allan (Italy) - 17

3.     Michael Stanley (Samoa) - 16

4.     Bryan Habana (South Africa) - 15

        Bernard Foley (Australia) - 15

        Jack Nowell (England) - 15

        Nick Easter (England) - 15

5.     Ayumu Goromaru (Japan) - 13

Tries: 

1.     Bryan Habana (South Africa) - 3

        Jack Nowell (England) - 3

        Nick Easter (England) - 3

2.     Anthony Watson (England) - 2

        Francois Louw (South Africa) - 2

        Nehe Milner Skudder (New Zealand) - 2

        Adrian Apostol (Romania) - 2

Clean breaks:

1.     Horacio Agulla (Argentina) - 5

        Jack Nowell (England) - 5

        Rey Lee Lo (Samoa) - 5

2.     Merab Kvirikashvili (Georgia) - 4

        Matias Moroni (Argentina) - 4

        Lepani Botia (Fiji) - 4

3.     Anthony Watson (England) - 3

        Jesse Kriel (South Africa) - 3

        Bryan Habana (South Africa) - 3

        Damian de Allende (South Africa) - 3

        Willie le Roux (South Africa) - 3

        Nemani Nadolo (Fiji) - 3

        Merab Sharikadze (Georgia) - 3

        Jeff Hassler (Canada) - 3

        Leonardo Sarto (Italy) - 3

        Edoardo Gori (Italy) - 3

Defenders beaten:

1.     Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino (Argentina) - 12

2.     Merab Sharikadze (Georgia) - 9

        Julian Montoya (Argentina) - 9

3.     Tamaz Mchedlidze (Georgia) - 8

        Matias Moroni (Argentina) - 8

        Damian de Allende (South Africa) - 8

4.     Jeff Hassler (Canada) - 7

5.     Merab Kvirikashvili (Georgia) - 6

        Sam Cane (New Zealand) - 6

        Duane Vermeulen (South Africa) - 6

        Rey Lee Lo (Samoa) - 6

        Lepani Botia (Fiji) - 6

Tackles: 

1.     Wian Conradie (Namibia) - 24

2.     Thierry Dusautoir (France) - 21

        Louis Picamoles (France) - 21

3.     Lood de Jager (South Africa) - 20

4.     Pascal Pape (France) - 17

        Yoann Maestri (France) - 17

        Simone Favaro (Italy) - 17

5.     Greg Peterson (USA) - 16

Lineouts won on own throw:

1.     Leone Nakarawa (Fiji) - 9

2.     Lood de Jager (South Africa) - 7

        Tjiuee Uanivi (Namibia) - 7

        Valentin Popirlan (Romania) - 7

3.     Geoff Parling (England) - 6

        Joe Launchbury (England) - 6

        Konstantin Mikautadze (Georgia) - 6

        Mamuke Gorgodze (Georgia) - 6

4.     Yoann Maestri (France) - 5

        Alessandro Zanni (Italy) - 5

        Kieran Read (New Zealand) - 5

5.     Brett Beukeboom (Canada) - 4

        Josh Furno (Italy) - 4

        Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) - 4

        Luke Thompson (Japan) - 4

        Dean Mumm (Australia) - 4

        Duane Vermeulen (South Africa) - 4

        Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) - 4

        Anthony Perenise (Samoa) - 4

        Joe Tuineau (Tonga) - 4

        Jonny Gray (Scotland) - 4

        Richie Gray (Scotland) - 4

(File photo: Gallo Images)