World Rugby News > Ireland, South Africa
Ireland v South Africa teams
IRELAND v SOUTH AFRICA Croke Park, Dublin Saturday, 28 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT Live coverage on BBC2.
Jonathan Sexton has been handed the number 10 shirt ahead of Ronan O’Gara for the Ireland South Africa game at Croke Park.
Jonathan Sexton
There are six changes from the Fiji game with Cian Healy, David Wallace, Donncha O’Callaghan, Tommy Bowe, Paddy Wallace, and Tomas O’Leary all returning. Sean O’Brien comes on the bench for Denis Leamy who failed fitness test. Also on the bench is Munster’s Tony Buckley, who gets in ahead of Ulster’s Tom Court. Peter Stringer gets the replacement scrum-half role instead of Eoin Reddan, and sits beside his long-time partner O’Gara.
Declan Kidney said: (quote) I know we have a world-class outside half in Ronan but we have to find out things about ourselves, Jonathan had a good game last week but with respect, Fiji were short of a few so it was difficult to read. I need to find out more. I worked with Jonathan last year and gave him the nod for the ‘A’ team and that answered a lot of questions. Ronan is disappointed but is the perfect pro. He has taken it on the chin, has continued training and has contributed to the team exactly as he would normally. (end quote)
South Africa have brought Ulster prop Brendon James (BJ) Botha into the team to play Grand Slam champions Ireland at Croke Park.
BJ Botha
This change plus the inclusion of Tendai Mtawarira at prop means captain John Smit is returned to hooker with Adriaan Strauss and Wian du Preez missing out.
Victor Matfield replaces Andries Bekker at lock and Wynand Olivier takes over from the injured Adi Jacobs at centre. Jean de Villiers is on the bench after being a late call-up to the squad.
The experienced Schalk Burger is back on the flank with Danie Rossouw moving from the side of the scrum to number eight. On the bench, there are four other changes, with Bismarck du Plessis and prop CJ van der Linde returning from injury. Flanker Dewald Potgieter is included in the Test 22 for the first time.
Teams
Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, P Wallace, K Earls; J Sexton, T O’Leary; C Healy, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell; S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, T Buckley, L Cullen, D Leamy, P Stringer, R O’Gara, G D’Arcy.
South Africa: Zane Kirchner; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit (capt), BJ Botha; Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield; Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Danie Rossouw.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Andries Bekker, Jean Deysel, Dewald Potgieter, Ruan Pienaar, Jean de Villiers.
