Lock Bakkies Botha did not train yesterday and is still receiving treatment for a stiff back. If he does cry off at the last minute, Ryan Kankowski, omitted from the match 22, will come on to the bench, with Andries Bekker starting.
Coach Peter de Villiers, as expected, named John Smit at hooker with Ulster prop BJ Botha starting in the No 3 jersey. Tendai Mtawarira returns after being rotated for last week's Test against Italy.
Schalk Burger will pack down at blindside flank after missing the Italy Test through injury and Danie Rossouw moves to No 8.
In the backline, centre Wynand Olivier replaces injured Adi Jacobs. Jean de Villiers will be on the bench after a late call-up. He was to be one of the BBC commentators at Croke Park before his call.
The coach has opted for a five/two split on the bench with two loose-forward replacements. Jean Deysel, who won his first cap against Italy, is joined by the uncapped Dewald Potgieter.
The match is billed as a mini-world championship between the northern and southern hemisphere champions.
The occasion, according to Jean De Villiers, will be one of the best of his career. "It's a great day for me to be involved in this game," he said. "To represent my country against friends and team-mates in the opposition will make it one of the games I'll treasure."
The match has been hyped because of the "bad blood" between the teams following an acrimonious Test series against a Lions team made up of many Irishmen.
Jean de Villiers said he had sent a text message to axed Ireland flyhalf Ronan O'Gara, who will also be on the bench.
"I told him we were both going to wear the No21, so we'll definitely swap jerseys," he said.
Smit's return to hooker and the inclusion of Botha at tighthead has ensured that the Bok scrum will provide a more solid foundation than in previous games on tour.
The front row of Mtawarira, Smit and Botha was superb in the last quarter against Italy and the Boks are aiming to reproduce that form against an Irish pack that suffered against Australia two weeks ago.
Coach De Villiers refused to say whether Smit's return was a permanent move.
Whatever the long-term plan, it is the right move for a match where victory will supply the perfect end to the Springboks' superb season.
South Africa team:
15-Zane Kirchner, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-Wynand Olivier, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez; 8-Danie Rossouw, 7-Schalk Burger, 6-Heinrich Brussow, 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-BJ Botha, 2-John Smit (captain), 1-Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16-Bismarck du Plessis, 17-CJ van der Linde, 18-Andries Bekker, 19-Jean Deysel, 20-Dewald Potgieter, 21-Ruan Pienaar, 22-Jean de Villiers
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