Fullbacks Willie le Roux and Jared Payne will be under the spotlight in Saturday’s first Test between the Springboks and Ireland as both teams will look to contestable kicks as a lethal weapon.Ireland cleverly confused the Boks with smart tactical kicking when the teams last met in Dublin in 2014 on their way to a 29-15 win. Much has changed for both sides since then‚ but if anything‚ contestable kicks have become more prominent and valuable as an attacking threat. Ireland have never won in SA in seven attempts‚ but if they are pinpoint with their kick and chase‚ that statistic could change.  In Super Rugby the issue has been under the spotlight with officials clamping down on the chaser after a series of horrific mid-air collisions‚ the most sickening involving Le Roux. Highlanders centre Jason Emery felled Le Roux in a match earlier this year and the Sharks fullback escaped a serious neck injury through a combination of luck and his own suppleness. Seeing a player land on his neck or head is not a sight anyone enjoys‚ but the contestable kick that usually leads to these types of incidents is a legitimate attacking ploy.  And it’s very effective when used well. Ireland reaped success the last time around and although the Boks have been preparing for a blaze of tactical kicking from flyhalf Paddy Jackson‚ in for the injured Johnny Sexton‚ coping on the day will be the only measure of their success in negating the threat.Sometimes the best laid plans come to nothing. Similarly Payne‚ usually a Test centre‚ can expect to field his share of high balls in what are expected to be greasy conditions after a cold front swept through the Mother City on Thursday night and Friday morning.  Bok skipper Adriaan Strauss believes that using contestable kicks‚ which the All Blacks have employed so successfully in recent years‚ is a risk worth taking as long as there is precise commitment when chasing. “High kicks are a sensitive issue in rugby at the moment but we still have control over it‚” Strauss said. “We have to make good decisions about whether to go up for the ball and contest or stand off. “Obviously we’ve spoken about it and we expect that Ireland will use the tactic. The last time we met they were very effective with the boot‚ either through high kicks or tactical kicks in behind us. It’s an area that is very important and we have done a lot of work on it. “Contestable kicks are a good tactic but it is a part of the game that can become very dangerous. So you have to respect that the officials have to make decisions with safety as first priority.” While the Bok backline‚ apart from Le Roux‚ wing JP Pietersen and flyhalf Pat Lambie is fairly callow‚ the pack is settled.  There are six survivors from the starting eight that did duty against the All Blacks in the World Cup semi-final last year and with Strauss‚ who was on the bench that day‚ it’s a formidable unit. Locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager will be key figures while Francois Louw’s ability to steal and slow ball could be crucial to the Boks playing on the front foot. Ireland are without the brilliant Sean O’Brien for this series‚ which presents an opportunity for Jordi Murphy to enhance his long-term prospects as Ireland’s premier openside. Bok No 8 Duane Vermeulen will be one of the chief battering rams trying to take the Boks over the gainline while props Tendai Mtawarira and Frans Malherbe are also strong carriers in the loose.  Flank Siya Kolisi‚ making his first start after 13 appearances as a substitute‚ also has a role to play in putting the Boks on the front foot. But unlike traditional Bok No 7s such as Juan Smith and Willem Alberts‚ the slightly smaller Kolisi won’t only be using brute power to earn gainline superiority. “I need to use my footwork because I’m not the biggest guy in the world‚” Kolisi said. “I can’t only be direct and try and run over guys. I need to find the way that works for me.” Etzebeth and De Jager will have a tough time with the Irish lineout‚ especially the 2.08m Devin Toner while fellow second row Ian Henderson is a tough hombre who likes to mix it up physically. His confrontation with Etzebeth in particular‚ has the potential to explode. Both these sides have a new look to them although Bok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is the only debutant among the starting players‚ so it will come down to taking opportunities. Lambie and Jackson will have to seize every point-scoring chance from the tee‚ while half breaks and turnovers‚ and how effectively they are used‚ will also be key. Teams: Springboks: 15-Willie le Roux‚ 14-JP Pietersen‚ 13-Lionel Mapoe‚ 12-Damian de Allende‚ 11-Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10-Pat Lambie‚ 9-Faf de Klerk‚ 8-Duane Vermeulen‚ 7-Siya Kolisi‚ 6-Francois Louw‚ 5-Lood de Jager‚ 4-Eben Etzebeth‚ 3-Frans Malherbe‚ 2-Adriaan Strauss (capt)‚ 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: 16-Bongi Mbonambi‚ 17-Trevor Nyakane‚ 18-Julian Redelinghuys‚ 19-Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ 20-Warren Whiteley‚ 21-Rudy Paige‚ 22-Elton Jantjies‚ 23-Jesse Kriel. Ireland: 15- Jared Payne‚ 14-Andrew Trimble‚ 13-Robbie Henshaw‚ 12-Luke Marshall‚ 11-Keith Earls‚ 10-Paddy Jackson‚ 9-Conor Murray‚ 8-Jamie Heaslip‚ 7-Jordi Murphy‚ 6-CJ Stander‚ 5-Devon Toner‚ 4-Iain Henderson‚ 3-Mike Ross‚ 2-Rory Best (capt)‚ 1-Jack McGrath. Reserves: 16-Sean Cronin‚ 17-Finlay Bealham.18-Tadgh Furlong‚ 19-Ultan Dillane‚ 20-Rhys Ruddock‚ 21-Kieran Marmion‚ 22-Ian Madigan‚ 23-Craig Gilroy. - TMG Digital ..