The injury that has forced Victor Matfield off the field for three weeks and the Jean de Villiers scare in the first match of the Super 14 season would have served as a reminder to the Springbok management of the potential perils they face in the three months before the British and Irish Lions arrive.
While the Springboks ended last year with a good win over England at Twickenham, and must start as strong favourites to win the eagerly awaited series, the one drawback of having a settled team is the potential for disruption when injuries force changes.
Some players did get a chance late in the London Test, when the Springboks were in control, but because of the scheduling, which permitted just three matches, the selectors did not get a chance to field alternative combinations and give fringe players the chance to play a full game.
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Someone like the prodigiously talented Sharks player Ryan Kankowski was blooded against Wales in Jake White's last match in charge, but was only used sparingly at the highest international level last year.
Frans Steyn did not get much opportunity to add to the impressive CV he had built up at Test level after the 2007 World Cup.
SA Rugby had planned to play an extra Test against Ireland in Dubai on the 2008 end of year tour, with the specific purpose of growing the reserve depth.
This aspect of the build-up to South Africa's successful challenge for the World Cup, with the Boks taking under-strength squads to Ireland and England in 2006 and to the Tri-Nations in 2007, cannot be underestimated in terms of importance to the end result.
With no extra internationals to provide a testing ground for the reserve depth, the focus has had to be on the Super 14, and while there have been good and bad messages sent out by the first choice Boks so far, the back-up players should have provided Bok coach Peter de Villiers with something to smile about.
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