The Irish occupy the number one status on the official World Rugby rankings following their outstanding season, which earned them an historic series win against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

While South Africa is the reigning World Champions, they are third in the rankings behind the Irish and the French.

The Irish captain, Johnny Sexton, said to them their number-one status means nothing if they are not the World Champions.

"It's not something that we talk about much," said the Irish rugby legend.

"It's not a goal to become number one in the world - it might sound stupid, but, in some sports, it is, like in golf or tennis, but in rugby the rankings matter once and that is three years out from a World Cup when it matters. That doesn't make that much sense either.

"We don't speak about it. To be number one in the world, you need to win the World Cup, that's where the goals are.

"You obviously want to be the best in Europe and you want to win the Six Nations. Those are the goals, it's nothing to be number one.

"I don't think many teams read too much into it. I know the other teams probably refer to us that way to put pressure on us, but we don't speak about it."

Saturday’s eagerly anticipated Test at a capacity Aviva Stadium will kick off at 19:30.

Ireland – TBA

Springboks - 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements - 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Willie le Roux.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport