Bekker replaces Botha for Boks

South Africa have suffered a setback ahead of today’s autumn Test against Ireland with the withdrawal of lock Bakkies Botha.

Botha has failed to recover from a back injury so Andries Bekker takes his place in the starting line-up.

Bekker’s place on the bench goes to scrum-half Francois Hougaard, leaving the injury-hit Springboks with no dedicated second-row cover among the substitutes.