Cape Town - Former Springbok lock Mark Andrews says the Boks should learn to play without calling on Bakkies Botha's number.

Botha and Victor Matfield formed a legendary lock partnership over a number of years for South Africa, but with Matfield now retired and Botha plying his trade with Toulon in France, Andrews believes bringing Botha into the Springbok fold won't suffice.

"It's not the answer to bring Bakkies back. The younger locks should be given a chance to show their worth, especially with a new coach (Heyneke Meyer) for the Springboks," Andrews told the Volksblad newspaper.

Andrews, however, feels Botha might still be useful when the Boks play arch rivals, the All Blacks.

"Bakkies is at the end of his career, but make no mistake, I'd want to have him in my team any time we play New Zealand.

"But the younger guys should now get a chance. I have the highest of regard for Bakkies but South Africa should learn to play without him."

Andrews feels a number of locks in Super Rugby are good enough to easily step into the Springbok team.

"Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth (both Stormers), Anton Bresler (Sharks), Flip van der Merwe (Bulls) and even the young Paul Willemse from the Lions impressed me. Then there's also someone like Steven Sykes (Sharks) with heaps of experience," said Andrews.