Stellenbosch, South Africa: A hamstring tear has forced lock Pieter-Steph du Toit to withdraw from the Springboks squad preparing for three Tests against Ireland, South Africa Rugby said yesterday.
Uncapped Franco Mostert has been promoted from the South Africa A squad to replace Du Toit for the June internationals in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
Losing Du Toit makes it likely that Eben Etzebeth and 2015 South African Rugby Player of the Year Lood de Jager will be the locks for the first Test with Mostert on the bench.
Stephan Lewies takes the place of Mostert in the A squad that plays the England Saxons in Bloemfontein and George during June.
Du Toit was injured last weekend and a scan revealed the tear that will sideline the forward for two to six weeks.
He plays for the Western Stormers, Mostert for the Golden Lions and Lewies for the Coastal Sharks, all Super Rugby franchises.