South Africa prop Tendai Mtawarira was hospitalised after suffering a recurrence of mild heart palpitations, hours before he was due to line up for the Springboks in their opening match of the autumn internationals.

He was discharged from the Dublin hospital later on Saturday and a decision hasn’t yet been taken on whether the forward nicknamed “The Beast” will play any part in the team’s tour of Europe this month.

South Africa said in a statement that Mtawarira was admitted to hospital for observation as a “precautionary measure.”

Mtawarira has been withdrawn from South Africa’s team to play Ireland in Dublin, replaced by CJ van der Linde at loosehead prop. Heinke van der Merwe, who has played in one test for the Springboks – in 2007 – was promoted to the bench.