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Cape Town – South Africa lock Bakkies Botha has been ruled out of the world champions' team to play Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday with a back injury, a statement issued by SA Rugby said.
Botha, who was receiving treatment, had been given until Saturday morning to prove his fitness.
His place in the starting line-up has been taken by Andries Bekker with Bekker's bench position now going to scrumhalf Francois Hougaard.
Now one of the sub-plots of an intriguing contest has been altered with the Springboks unable to field their star lineout duo of Botha and Victor Matfield against the impressive second row combination that Six Nations champions Ireland have in Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan.
Matfield is returning for this tour-ending match after missing last week's 32-10 win over Italy.
This tour has not been the triumphant finale to a fine year that world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa would have wanted.
They lost 20-13 to France and have also been beaten in tour games by English Premiership sides Leicester and Saracens.
South Africa come into this match looking to avoid a third straight defeat by Ireland, having lost both their two previous games in Dublin.
Saturday's international at Croke Park is due to kick-off at 16:30 SA time.
Botha, who was receiving treatment, had been given until Saturday morning to prove his fitness.
His place in the starting line-up has been taken by Andries Bekker with Bekker's bench position now going to scrumhalf Francois Hougaard.
Now one of the sub-plots of an intriguing contest has been altered with the Springboks unable to field their star lineout duo of Botha and Victor Matfield against the impressive second row combination that Six Nations champions Ireland have in Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan.
Matfield is returning for this tour-ending match after missing last week's 32-10 win over Italy.
This tour has not been the triumphant finale to a fine year that world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa would have wanted.
They lost 20-13 to France and have also been beaten in tour games by English Premiership sides Leicester and Saracens.
South Africa come into this match looking to avoid a third straight defeat by Ireland, having lost both their two previous games in Dublin.
Saturday's international at Croke Park is due to kick-off at 16:30 SA time.
