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'Beast' to miss All Blacks encounter

South Africa's veteran prop Tendai Mtawarira will miss their test against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship tomorrow for unspecified "family reasons", coach Allister Coetzee said yesterday.

"Losing your most experienced player is not ideal, but family comes first in our caring environment," Coetzee told a news conference.

"He's got to take care of personal and family matters."

The 32-year-old Mtawarira is SA's most experienced player with 95 caps and had been in a rich vein of form.

South Africa have made three changes with Francois Louw moving to number eight to replace the injured Uzair Cassiem and Pieter-Steph du Toit coming in on the flank where Louw played in the 27-all draw with Australia in Bloemfontein last week.

Lood de Jager replaces Franco Mostert at lock.

SA are alert of eminent danger after a record 57-0 defeat to the same New Zealand away last month.

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