The Springboks are considering calling back hard man Bakkies Botha to cover a locking crisis for the Rugby Championship.
Botha’s 76-test career looked to be over when an Achilles tendon injury cut short his World Cup last year and the Boks crashed out in the quarter-finals.
New Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer admitted he was eyeing the Toulon lock as a potential solution to the second row injury problems.
Meyer says Botha’s vast experience could be crucial.
He said: “I have always rated Bakkies, and suddenly with all the injuries we have, we just can’t go in with an under-21 team when we are playing against the best teams in the world.
“Bakkies has been playing well (in France). I have been looking at every single overseas player, and I have always said that if there is a 50/50 call, I would go with the guy based in South Africa.
“But if Eben (Etzebeth) is injured, suddenly there are not a lot of four locks around, and I may have to make some kind of plan. I will definitely then look at Bakkies as an option.
“Franco van der Merwe was impressive when he trained with us there, and even though he is essentially a five lock, he can play four as well.
“Another player I would have considered is Pieter-Steph du Toit of the Sharks and the SA under-20 team, but he is injured at the moment.”
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