World Cup winner BJ Botha has become the second Ireland-based prop to be recalled to the Springbok team, as injuries continue to cut a swathe through the winless South African touring team in Europe.

Botha, capped 17 times for his country before he joined up with Irish province Ulster at the start of the 2008/09 season, joined the Bok squad as they prepare for the second Test of their tour - against Italy in Udine on Saturday.

Anthony Mackaiser, the Boks' media liaison manager confirmed to iafrica.com that Botha has been called up to the squad.

He has been called up in place of the injured Munster Bok CJ van der Linde, who damaged his hamstring in the 23-24 loss to Saracens in London on Tuesday. Van der Linde last just 10 minutes, before he hobbled off.

Botha was reportedly on holiday in South Africa and will fly out to Italy on Wednesday night.

Van der Linde, who has 57 Test caps for his country, was called up to the Boks after the opening match of the tour - a 17-22 loss to Leicester Tigers.

This game started the Boks' injury scourge when the entire Dirt Trackers front row - Gurthro Steenkamp, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Jannie du Plessis - had to return home.

Botha, who has established himself as an integral part the Ulster front row, is a specialist tighthead prop - with Van der Linde able to play on both sides.

However, he is highly rated by his peers as a technically sound and powerful scrummager, who before leaving South Africa, was one cap shy of a half century in the domestic Currie Cup.

He made his first professional appearance with the Sharks in 2001 and represented South Africa at Under-21 level that same season.

His Bok Test debut came as a replacement against New Zealand in 2006, ending his debut season with a tour of England and Ireland in November. The last of his 17 caps was against Wales at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, in June last year - just before his departure to Ireland.

Prop is not the Boks' only injury concern ahead of Saturday's encounter with Italy, as South Africa try to avoid a fourth consecutive loss for the first time since 2006.

Should they lose to Italy on Saturday and Ireland the next week, it will be the first time in more than 50 years that the Boks failed to win any of their games on a Northern Hemisphere tour.

Earlier Wednesday new Springbok midweek captain Dewald Potgieter, Sharks loose forward Jean Deysel, uncapped Bok scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and wing Jongi Nokwe were all named in the 26-man squad that headed to Udine to prepare for the Test against Italy on Saturday.

With injury concerns over several forwards - Van der Linde, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Andries Bekker and flank Schalk Burger - additional cover were required.

"Andries, Bismarck and Schalk are still being monitored and there will be more clarity on their fitness at the team announcement," Mackaiser told this website.

Bok coach Peter de Villiers will name his Test starting XV on Thursday.