South Africa lose Rudy Paige for New Zealand showdown

South Africa scrum-half Rudy Paige has been ruled out of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand.

Paige was kneed in the head during last weekend's 18-10 win over Australia and after he awoke with a headache on Monday morning, he was ruled out of the Durban showdown.

Piet Van Zyl has been called into the squad as his replacement and will battle it out with Northampton's Nic Groom to start against the All Blacks.

The Rugby Championship

Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee said: "The players that we are looking at to come in are Piet van Zyl from the Bulls and Nic Groom, who has been part of the squad.

"Those are the two candidates at this point in time."

Jesse Kriel (groin) and Bryan Habana (thigh) need further tests on knocks they picked up against the Aussies.