Veteran South Africa prop Tendai Mtawarira will miss the Springboks' Test against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship for unspecified "family reasons", coach Allister Coetzee says.
"Losing your most experienced player is not ideal, but family comes first in our caring environment," Coetzee told a news conference on Thursday. "He's got to take care of personal and family matters."
The 32-year-old Mtawarira is South Africa's most experienced player with 95 caps and had been in a rich vein of form.
He will be replaced by Steven Kitshoff, who gets his first start after 18 Test appearances off the bench.
South Africa have made three changes with Francois Louw moving to No.8 to replace the injured Uzair Cassiem and Pieter-Steph du Toit coming in on the flank where Louw played in the 27-27 draw with Australia in Bloemfontein last week. Lood de Jager replaces Franco Mostert at lock.
South Africa suffered a record 57-0 defeat to New Zealand away last month.
"The All Blacks will again test us in every department. They don't seem to have any weak areas, so we will have to show that we've learnt from our experience in Albany," Coetzee said.
"Saturday is another huge opportunity for us to continue to grow as a team and build on our cohesion."
SOUTH AFRICA: Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Francois Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Trevor Nyakane, Wilko Louw, Franco Mostert, Jean-Luc du Preez, Rudy Paige, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende.
