South Africa's chances of a 3-0 clean sweep in the series against the British and Irish Lions took a knock when Springbok players Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha were both suspended, following disciplinary hearings on Sunday.

While the loss of Burger, in what many felt was a just punishment, can be offset by the superb form of Heinrich Brüssow, it is going to be significantly tougher to replace Botha in Saturday's third and final Test in Johannesburg.

His most likely replacement, Danie Rossouw, could be out with concussion after leaving the field on a mobile stretcher in Pretoria at the weekend. Andries Bekker, the next in line, does not have the physical presence of both Botha and Rossouw - something that will be in desperate short supply against a Lions team that can be brutal in their approach.

Burger and Botha appeared before Canadian judicial officer Alan Hudson in a marathon session that started at noon on Sunday and was only concluded in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Bok duo cited by New Zealanders Steve Hinds for foul play in South Africa's 28-25 win over the Lions in Pretoria at the weekend - a result that gave the Boks an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Burger was sin-binned inside the first minute of the Boks' encounter with the B&I Lions at Loftus Versfeld, after the touch judge pointed out his actions to the referee.

While the match-officials only issued a yellow card, he - and lock Bakkies Botha - were cited and appeared before a judicial hearing on Sunday.

Burger was later cited for an act contrary to good sportsmanship – Law 10.4 (l) – by allegedly attacking the eyes of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in the first minute of the Test.

Botha was cited under Law 10.4 (g) for dangerous charging in the fourth minute of the second half on Lions prop Adam Jones.

Burger was found guilty of committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship, making contact with the face in the eye area of the Lions wing, Fitzgerald.

The Bok flank was suspended for eight weeks and will only be able to action on August 22.

That means he will not only miss the final the final Test against the Lions, but also the Boks' first three Tri-Nations matches - against the All Blacks (in Bloemfontein) on July 25 and (Durban) August 1, as well as Australia (Cape Town) on August 8.

He will only be available again when South Africa travel abroad for the Australasian leg of their Tri-Nations campaign - which starts against the Wallabies on Perth on August 29 - and it is debatable if he should be called up into the team by then.

Botha was found guilty of dangerously charging into a ruck without binding on a player.

The incident took place in the fourth minute of the second half and resulted in the Lions prop, Jones, leaving the field with a shoulder injury.

Botha was suspended for two weeks, effective until July 11, and will be available for the start of the Tri-Nations.

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