South Africa have added lock Flip van der Merwe to their Tri-Nations rugby squad after the suspension of Test veteran Bakkies Botha for head-butting.

Van der Merwe, from the Pretoria-based Bulls, will join the squad ahead of Saturday's second Test against New Zealand but is not part of the team for that match.

He will provide cover at lock for the Springboks' next Tri-Nations Test, against Australia in Brisbane on July 24.

Botha was suspended for nine weeks on Monday for head-butting All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan in the opening minute of last week's Tri-Nations test at Auckland.

New Zealand beat the Springboks 32-12.

Van der Merwe made his Test debut against France in Cape Town last month.

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