Rugged flanker Schalk Burger will be available for two of South Africa's three Tri-Nations Tests against the Wallabies despite copping an eight-week ban for eye-gouging.
On an ugly weekend for international rugby, in which Italy captain Sergio Parisse was also outed for eight weeks for an eye gouge, Burger was found guilty of poking the eyes of British and Irish Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald just 32 seconds into his 50th Test, which the home side won 28-25 in Pretoria to clinch the three-Test series.
Burger will be allowed to return to rugby on August 23, ruling him out of the Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town on August 8 and matches against New Zealand on July 25 and August 1.
However, he could return for the clashes with the Wallabies in Perth on August 29 and in Brisbane the following week.
South African lock Bakkies Botha was also suspended, for two weeks for charging dangerously into Lions prop Adam Jones, who left the field early in the second half with a suspected dislocated shoulder.
Botha will be allowed to play again on July 12.
Both Burger and Bothawill miss next Saturday's finalTest against the Lions at Johannesburg, a game which is now a dead rubber.
South Africa Rugby announced the bans on Monday after both players attended disciplinary hearings by judicial officer Alan Hudson of Canada.
Parisse was suspended for an eye-gouge on All Blacks second rower Isaac Ross during his team's 27-6 loss to the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday night.
The No.8's punishment was handed down by International Rugby Board (IRB) judicial officer Paul Tully after a hearing in Christchurch on Sunday.
SYDNEY AAP/AP/NZPA
