MARSEILLE, France - South Africa will not rule out a 7-1 split between forwards and backs on their bench for the highly anticipated World Cup clash with Ireland on Saturday, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said as he confirmed flyhalf Handre Pollard will not play.

There were eye-brows raised when the Springboks went with a 7-1 split against New Zealand in their record 35-7 warm-up victory in London last month, but on that occasion it was explained by a late injury to fullback Willie le Roux.