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Cape Town - Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis says that the injury of Black Caps batman Ross Taylor provides the Proteas with an opportunity heading into the second Test match.
Taylor, who suffered a calf injury in the first innings in Dunedin, was ruled out of the second Test in Wellington.
Whether he plays in the third and final Test in Hamilton the following week will depend on his rate of recovery.
This is a major blow to the Black Caps, who will lose the experience and batting reliability of Taylor.
Du Plessis sees Taylor missing out of the second Test as an opportunity for the Proteas bowling attack to put pressure on the home side.
"They're losing a big player in Ross Taylor," Du Plessis told reporters after the drawn first Test in Dunedin on Sunday.
"Someone new will have to step in and that will create an opportunity for us to put some pressure on them.
"They going to miss the experience. Ross is a guy who averages 50 - it's difficult to replace that straight away and Test cricket experience does count a lot.
"We see that definitely as a positive for us.
"If we can get through Kane Williamson now, we could put some real pressure on their batters."
Taylor will be replaced by Neil Broom, who will make his Test debut at the Basin Reserve.
The second Test match takes place in Wellington starting on Thursday (00:00 SA time).
