Jean de Villiers, the centre formerly of Munster, wins his 64th Springbok cap against Ireland tomorrow night after passing a late fitness test today.

He starts alongside Zane Kirchner in a side missing 13 players, including the captain, John Smit, who are injured or not available.

Add to that a record of five defeats in the past six Tests, plus a coach who was recently given the dreaded vote of confidence by his board, and the Springboks start their attempt at a grand slam tour as underdogs at the Aviva Stadium despite having Bryan Habana, Pierre Spies, Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith in their ranks, with Victor Matfield as captain.