South Africa’s players made a protest in support of banned Springboks lock Bakkies Botha in today’s third Test against the British and Irish Lions at Ellis Park.

The world champions are incensed that Botha received a two-week ban for dangerous charging on Lions prop Adam Jones during last weekend’s second Test in Pretoria.

Many astute judges feel Botha had legally cleared Jones out of a ruck, although the Wales international was left nursing a dislocated shoulder that ended his tour. Botha was cited following the incident, and then suspended, before South African management mounted an unsuccessful appeal.

Players and management, including head coach Peter de Villiers, wore white arm bands with 'Justice' written on them during South Africa’s pre-match warm-up, and the players kept them on their shirts as the game kicked off.

“The Springboks players all feel for Bakkies,” said South African Rugby Players’ Association chief executive Piet Heymans. “Despite comprehensive submissions by the attorney acting for Bakkies Botha and SARPA, where a very important point of principle was developed as to the proper application of this law, and in particular when a player lawfully binds or attempts to bind for the purpose of this law, the appeal was not successful.

“Over an extended period of time, numerous other players have charged into rucks without binding, but were either not penalised at all or received only a penalty.

“Bakkies hit a ruck just before the one in question in a similar style and was not penalised. The players want to send a clear message that they require the International Rugby Board to have an urgent and serious re-look at Law 10.4.

“The inconsistency has upset the players, and they felt very strongly that they must take a firm stance and show their unhappiness with the application of the relevant law.

“We will be consulting with our legal team next week to consider all our legal options available to assist Bakkies Botha and provide him with a sense of justice.”