Zane Kirchner will partner either Patrick Lambie or Jean de Villiers in a make-shift combination in the Springbok midfield to face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Bulls flanker Deon Stegmann will make his Test debut in a bold Springbok line-up, while uncapped Sharks utility back Lambie could make his debut if Jean de Villiers fails a late fitness test.

The bench will also include two uncapped players.

The team shows eight changes (nine if De Villiers is unavailable) to the one which ended the Tri-Nations series against Australia in September.

The six definite survivors are Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, captain Victor Matfield and Jannie du Plessis. A seventh, Francois Hougaard is on the bench, while an eighth in Frans Steyn will only join the squad after the Ireland match.

Stegmann, 24, comes in for Schalk Burger in the number six jersey. Burger suffered a broken rib in the Currie Cup final and withdrew from the tour party.

Lambie's Sharks team-mates Willem Alberts or Keegan Daniel (looseforward) and Lwazi Mvovo (wing) could also make their debuts from the bench.

Front rankers Tendai Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis make their first appearances of the season for South Africa while Bakkies Botha returns after suspension.

Ulster-based scrum-half Ruan Pienaar returns to the number nine jersey he last wore against the Wallabies in Australia in July, while wing Bjorn Basson and centre Zane Kirchner make their first appearances since June.

South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Jean de Villiers/Patrick Lambie, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle,17, CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Willem Alberts/Keegan Daniel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie/Lwazi Mvovo.

Date: Saturday, November 6
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official: Hugh Watkins (Wales)

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