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The Springbok players have united in solidarity with suspended lock Bakkies Botha, staging a protest in the third and final Test against the British and Irish Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The South African players all decided to wear white arm bands in solidarity with Botha, after his two-week suspension and unsuccessful appeal against transgressing Law 10.4 (j) by dangerously charging into a ruck without binding on a player.

The word 'justice' has been printed on the armbands.

"The Springbok players all feel for Bakkies, as he will miss this memorable final Test against the British and Irish Lions," South African Rugby Players Association (SARPA) CEO Piet Heymans said on Saturday.

"As a sign of solidarity the Springbok players have decided to wear white arm bands during the Test match. At the same time the players want to send a clear message that they require the IRB to have an urgent and serious relook at Law 10.4 (j)," Heymans added.

"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 this one in question in a similar style and was not penalised. Coaches are coaching players to hit rucks in this manner and therefore this is a major cause of apprehension," Heymans added.

"This 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.

"Rugby as a spectacle will lose its excitement and appeal if the best players in the world are not sure how the laws will be applied and that their participation in world class rugby could be affected by the actions of judicial officers," said Heymans.

"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 as he has suffered significantly due to this suspension," concluded Heymans.