The Springboks will in all likelihood be fielding a starting XV as close as possible to the South Africa A team that beat the Lions 17-13 in Cape Town last Wednesday.

The good news for the Boks is that the flyhalf, Handré Pollard, and lock, Lood de Jager, have completed their Covid-19 protocols and will resume training this morning.

Springbok coach, Jacques Nienaber, said the SA A’s 17-14 defeat to the Bulls was not ideal, but it served a purpose.

“It was exactly what we wanted. Not the loss, but the game.

“To have another game and for individuals to stake their claims before the first test,” Nienaber said after the match.

“The result didn’t go our way and we didn’t play as well as we had hoped, but we got a lot of answers.

“We needed this game to get answers and we got them.

“We knew the Bulls are the best franchise in the country and hats off to them in giving us this game."

Saturday's 1st Test at the Cape Town Stadium kicks off at 18:00.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport