Caelan Doris: 7:1 'Boks bench split won't affect Ireland plan

Caelan Doris doesn't believe South Africa’s 7:1 bench split means Ireland have to adjust their game plan.

Yesterday, Jacques Nienaber revealed the Springboks' 23 to do battle with Andy Farrell’s men in Paris on Saturday night, in a game which will go a long way to deciding the finishing order of World Cup Pool B.

Alongside the return of Eben Etzebeth from a shoulder injury, a bench of seven forwards and just one back, Conus Reinach, contains Munster locks RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn, who won five caps with Ireland back in 2019.

'To be playing the world champions in Paris' - John Fogarty and Jack Crowley look ahead to Saturday's game against South Africa, @OFlynnPaul reports from Tours #rwc2023 #rterugby pic.twitter.com/JRUhf4DFll

"It doesn’t actually change too much," said Leinster number 8 Doris, speaking before the team was named.

"We talk of delivering an 80-minute performance, regardless of who we are playing and knowing that some teams target the last 20 minutes.

"We also speak about our bench coming off and not just fitting in but taking it up a level so that will be important this weekend.

"We back our fitness against most teams and back our smarts as well so we’re pretty confident in that area."

While the South African pack are made up of very large men, Doris, who was voted Ireland’s Player of the Year last season, said they bring more than just bulk to the game.

"It’s not just their size, it's the way the play," said the 25-year-old Mayo man.

"They are very direct off 9, they’ll have two or three players latched onto a carrier and try to drive them over a gain line. It’s the way they maul, it’s the ruck, the way they aggressively go after it.

"It’s partly their size and their physicality and partly their mindset and the way