The Springboks have paid a heavy price for scheduling a Test against Argentina in the middle of the Tri-Nations as Bakkies Botha is almost certain to be ruled out of Saturday's critical clash against the All Blacks at Newlands.
The record 63-9 annihilation of the Pumas in Johannesburg on Saturday may have massaged Springbok egos, but it did little to enhance South Africa's Tri-Nations winning prospects following the loss of Botha, with a knee injury, as well as centre Jaque Fourie, with a facial injury.
Botha, the strongman known in rugby as the "enforcer" of the South African pack, will go for a scan today to assess the extent of his injury.
Although the big Bulls lock has yet to be officially ruled out of Saturday's Test, his visit to a specialist confirms the severity of the injury and it will be a miracle if he is declared fit for Newlands.
Essentially, the only question left to answer is whether Botha will be out for the rest of the Tri-Nations.
Fourie, who was just coming back from an elbow injury that had kept him out of the game for weeks, came on as a substitute on Saturday, but barely lasted 15 minutes before leaving the field in great discomfort after clashing heads in a tackle.
He has already been ruled out of the Newlands clash.
With 39 Test caps and 22 tries to his name, the return of the big centre was a fillip for South Africa, particularly as Fourie had played many Tests with in-form inside-centre Jean de Villiers.
Neither Springbok coach Peter de Villiers nor captain Victor Matfield will need to be reminded this week of the effect the loss of a few key players can have on a team, particularly when South Africa are up against their greatest rivals.
Against South Africa in Dunedin last month the All Blacks were undoubtedly depleted and felt the loss of injured captain Richie McCaw, suspended lock Bruce Thorn and then, during the match itself, his second-row partner, Ali Williams.
This played a key role in assisting South Africa to gain their first-ever Test match victory in Dunedin (30-28), while also celebrating the Springboks' first win on New Zealand soil in ten years.
Saturday's Test against Argentina also gave the New Zealand coaching team another opportunity to study the Springboks at close quarters.
Assistant coach Wayne Smith, along with kicking coach Mike Byrne and scrum coach Mike Crom, were in Johannesburg and were spotted filming play from the grandstand on the centre-line.
All three, however, left 15 minutes before the end of the game and arrived in Cape Town to join Graham Henry and his squad later in the evening.
Before the Pumas game, De Villiers had taken the precaution of resting hard man Schalk Burger and try-scoring flyer Bryan Habana.
Both are expected to be named in the team this week in a starting line-up showing minimal changes from Saturday.
Andries Bekker will now almost certainly start for South Africa in the second row, with less than seven Test caps in combat after making his debut against Wales earlier this year.
Bekker, the tallest lock in the Super 14, is a colossus of a player and at age 25 he is just reaching his prime. He is regarded as the heir apparent to Matfield, but you can't simply replace a 52-cap veteran of Botha's pedigree.
The winner of Saturday's Test will become outright favourites to clinch the Tri-Nations trophy. South Africa are bottom of the log with five points, but play all three remaining matches at home with the Wallabies next up in Durban and Johannesburg.
New Zealand, with nine points, fly back to the Antipodes next week with a two-week break to prepare for their final game against Australia in Brisbane.
Australia top the log with 10 points, but their record in South Africa is appalling.