South Africa has drafted Bulls frontrower Christo Bezuidenhout into its squad for Saturday’s Tri-Nations rugby union test against New Zealand in Dunedin as a replacement for banned prop Robbie Kempson.
Bezuidenhout (33) will become one of the oldest players to make his international debut for South Africa if he takes the field on Saturday in a match in which the All Blacks can clinch the Tri-Nations title.
Kempson was banned for four weeks for a late and high tackle on Wallabies’s No.8 Toutai Kefu during Saturday’s 29-9 loss to Australia in Brisbane.
Springboks lock Bakkies Botha was banned for eight weeks for attacking Wallabies’s hooker Brendan Cannon in the face. No replacement was called up for Botha because the touring South African squad retains three fit locks.
The Springboks touring party arrived in Dunedin on Monday to prepare for its final Tri Nations match of the season, smarting from consecutive losses to New Zealand and Australia and pursued by allegations of foul play.
The South African Rugby Union is reportedly contemplating a formal complaint against Wallabies’s coach Eddie Jones, who told a post-match news conference that foul play was condoned in South Africa and described the Springboks’ tactics as a ”disgrace for international rugbyâ€. – Sapa-AP