South Africa lock Bakkies Botha will miss Saturday’s third and final Test against the British and Irish Lions after losing his appeal against a two-week ban, the South African Rugby Union said on Thursday.
Botha was suspended for a dangerous charge on Lions prop Adam Jones in the second Test, which left the Welshman with a dislocated shoulder. Flanker Schalk Burger was banned on Sunday for eight weeks after being found guilty of gouging the eyes of Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald during the same match.
Burger’s attack on Fitzgerald in the opening minute of South Africa’s 28-25 win has prompted the International Rugby Board (IRB) to review penalties for eye-gouging.
”There is no place in rugby for illegal or foul play and the act of eye gouging is particularly heinous,” an IRB statement said.
The IRB will also review whether to allow the opposition and the governing body to enter the appeals process instead of just the player involved.
The absence of Botha and Burger, coupled with several injuries, has forced Springbok coach Peter de Villiers to make 10 changes to his starting team for Saturday.
Zane Kirchner will make his debut at fullback and Odwa Ndungane and Jongikhaya Nokwe replace Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen on the wings.
Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier form a new centre pairing and Morne Steyn, who kicked the winning penalty in Pretoria last week, starts at flyhalf.
”The Lions will have their hands full playing against the backline we have chosen. I hope Wynand Olivier and Jaque Fourie can create the space we need because then the Lions will know Jongi Nokwe’s number. He gives me goosebumps, and if you blink you don’t see him,” De Villiers told a news conference on Thursday.
Heinrich Brussow and former captain Johann Muller will come in for Burger and Botha respectively, while Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle replaces Bismarck du Plessis at hooker.
”The Lions will come at us with fearless drives and we need to have some beef there if we are going to get good ball for the backs,” De Villiers said.
”The off-field stuff sometimes gives me more sleepless nights than what happens on the field. We’ve had a lot of setbacks this week and I changed my mind on some tough selection calls four or five times,” De Villiers said.
De Villiers ended the news conference by criticising British media.
”We had negative media from Britain in 1974 and 1980 and now I’ve allowed it again in 2009. What a stupid bugger I am! I’ve learnt that if they can’t win on the field then they will try to win anywhere else they can,” De Villiers said.
Meanwhile, the tourists made seven changes to their starting lineup as they look to avoid a 3-0 series loss.
Injured Welsh props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones were replaced by England’s Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery, who had a torrid time in the first Test and was dropped for the second.
Centres Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts were also ruled out through injury so Tommy Bowe moves inside from the wing, alongside Riki Flutey, who will make his Lions Test debut on Saturday.
Ugo Monye returns to the right wing and Shane Williams starts on the left, with Martyn Williams and Joe Worsley getting their first starts of the series on the flanks. — Reuters
Teams
Springboks: Zane Kirchner; Odwa Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Jongikhaya Nokwe; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow; Victor Matfield, Johann Muller; John Smit, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Deon Carstens, Steven Sykes, Pierre Spies, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn.
British and Irish Lions: Rob Kearney; Ugo Monye,Tommy Bowe, Riki Flutey, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Jamie Heaslip, Martyn Williams, Joe Worsley; Paul O’Connell, Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery, Matthew Rees, Andrew Sheridan. Replacements: Ross Ford, John Hayes, Alun-Wyn Jones, David Wallace, Tom Croft, Harry Ellis, James Hook.