The Springboks have lost a second lock with a back injury ruling Andries Bekker out of Saturday night's Tri-Nations rugby Test against Australia in Brisbane.
The World Cup holders were already missing the suspended Bakkies Botha and coach Peter de Villiers says Bekker's acute disc injury is unfortunate.
He says it's a blow for Bekker as rugby's tallest player was just coming back from a previous injury but the rest of the squad is in good shape.
Bekker was injured towards the end of the second Test against the All Blacks in Wellington and had an MRI scan in Brisbane on Monday.
