The Boks will officially get their international season underway when they face Wales, who had a torrid time in the Six Nations by ending in fifth.

All eyes will be on the world champs who are expected to claim series whitewash against the Dragons.

The Bethlehem-born Springbok hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, has downplayed the pressure that comes with playing international rugby by stating that it’s always an honour to don the green-and-gold.

“It is more a privilege and an honour,” said the World Cup-winner.

“The thing we go through as a country – that is pressure. As the Springboks we have the privilege of going out onto the pitch here to make ourselves proud, our families proud and obviously to do the nation proud as well because we have the honour of wearing the Springbok jersey.

“It has been a while since we played together but over the last four weeks, we have been training hard in our preparation camp. We have made it work because of the careful planning. Even with guys joining at different times from different countries.

“We always work hard as Boks - no matter where we are or what people are saying. We focus on ourselves and there are processes we follow each day and each week.

“There is always a plan to get the result we want.”

Saturday’s Test in the capital city kicks off at 17:05.

Springboks – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nché.

Replacements – 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Willie le Roux.

Wales – TBA

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport