Victor Matfield's presence among the Springbokswas put into perspective by coach Peter de Villiers yesterday.

The 108-test veteran and vice-captain might still be out with a hamstring injury, but the coach believes Matfield is worth half the team.

"If you send Victor home it means you send home half the team," De Villiers said.

"All the Bulls who are here believe in Victor the way I do. If he just sits there, six or seven other guys are comfortable. That is the scenario I have to deal with that other coaches perhaps don't have to."

Matfield is one of nine Bulls players in the Springbok team.

De Villiers yesterday laid bare the complexities he faced as the team's injury count mounted halfway through the pool stages of the W orld Cup. He said it wasn't just the starting line-up that required a clean bill of health.

"Our biggest problem isn't the first 15 because you expect them to be limping. It's when the next 15 start limping that you have a problem. Their job is to keep the first 15 sharp on the practice field. You need to know when to press that button [to send an injured player home]."