The three-Test series is all square after Ireland won by 26-20 in Cape Town and the Boks came from behind to run out with a 32-26 victory in Johannesburg last week.

The Sharks and former Toyota Cheetahs prop, Coenie Oosthuizen, linked up with the team on Wednesday as cover for his former Cheetahs teammate, Trevor Nyakane.

Nyakane was withdrawn from the side due to a swollen ankle, however, it is highly unlikely that Oosthuizen will be named in the match 23. The Cheetahs lock, Lood de Jager, and Toulon eighthman, Duane Vermeulen, are also unavailable for the Test due to injuries while flyhalf, Patrick Lambie, hasn’t recovered from concussion.

Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira and Frans Malherbe are expected to start in the front-row with Steven Kitshoff and Julian Redelinghuys on the bench.

Kitshoff is set for his debut while the impressive Lions flank, Jaco Kriel, is also expected to be named on the bench for his overdue debut. His Lions teammate, Ruan Combrinck, who was the man of the match last week, will get his first start at the expense of Lwazi Mvovo.

The loosehead prop, Mtawarira, is the most experienced campaigner in the side and he says the young side need to remain composed, especially when under pressure.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have played at this level for a long time, but there are certain things that I’m still leaving and I want to keep on getting better, keep on improving.

“I must say that there is a lot of enthusiasm in the camp, the youngsters just want to play and enjoy themselves, but you know, we need that fine balance to make sure that we’re good in our detail and that we have composure as well.

“I think it’s something that we showed in the second half of the last Test. We showed that we can play, so we have to make sure that we start like that on Saturday.”

Saturday afternoon’s Test at the Nelson Mandela Stadium kicks off at 17:00.

Springboks - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements – 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.

Morgan Piek/OFM News