The Springboks are expecting to face a different breakdown threat from Italy in this Saturday’s Test in Florence.

The Boks have arrived in Italy under immense pressure after claiming just a solitary win from their last six Tests, with last weekend’s 37-21 defeat to England proving to be the latest in a long line of disappointing results this season.

Afterwards, Allister Coetzee intimated that he would consider making some personnel changes if need be, but the word out of the Bok camp this week suggests there aren’t likely to be wholesale alterations as they desperately go in search of a much-needed victory.

There will have to be at least one change, though, with Eben Etzebeth having been ruled out of this weekend’s Test with a concussion. His absence is likely to see Pieter-Steph du Toit revert to the second row, although an alternative option would be for Franco Mostert to simply be promoted from the bench.

Beyond that interesting consideration, the Boks are sure to be thinking long and hard about their loose-trio configuration. Last Saturday, Du Toit didn’t look comfortable in his makeshift role at blindside flank, while Willem Alberts also battled to make much of an impression in the unfamiliar No 6 jersey.

Should Du Toit return to lock, it may open the door for Nizaam Carr (pictured above) to make his first Springbok start after playing off the bench last weekend. When Carr earned his first Bok call-up for the 2014 end-of-year tour, it came on the back of an outstanding Super Rugby season where he did impress at openside flank.

Chatting to the media in Italy this week, Bok assistant coach Johann van Graan said they were preparing to face a fierce contest at the breakdown on Saturday.

‘We’ve been monitoring Italy the entire year and they pose a different threat to England. They don’t play as much rugby as England‚ they use a long kicking game to pin you back‚ they have a strong scrum‚ which they use to manipulate penalties and most crucially, they are a leg-tackling side.

‘Last weekend against England we faced a lot of upper-body tackles‚ but the leg tackles with the second man in over the ball makes them a breakdown threat. And in captain and No 8 Sergio Parisse, they have one of the best players in the world who is a talisman for them. So, we are not underestimating them.’

The Bok team will be named at 3pm on Thursday.

Photo: Craig Mercer/CameraSport