The Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, has hinted that they may still go with a seven-one split on the bench for Saturday’s first Test against Ireland in Pretoria.

This despite already naming strong team on Tuesday for the opening game of the eagerly anticipated series.

The series the world has been waiting for is about to kick-off and over the next two weeks the top two ranked teams will battle it out.

While Erasmus has named a strong and experienced match 23, he has indicated that the team could be changed slightly as there are still given one or two niggles time until Thursday to recover.

“There are one or two niggles, and there is still a possibility of going with a seven-one split, but we will give time until Thursday, ”said Erasmus.

“I don’t want to elaborate on that too much at this point.

“Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu certainly brings a lot to the party and there are not too many changes when we go with a six-two split.

“That's actually where Manie Libbok missed out on selection.

“He is not so comfortable at 12. Handré Pollard would go to 12 and Manie would go to 10 or fullback.

“It just makes more sense because Sacha can over all three of those positions.”

Ireland has never won a Test series in South Africa and the last time they were here the Springboks won 2-1.

Saturday’s Test at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 17:00.

Springboks - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements - 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Ireland – TBA

Morgan Piek OFM Sport