By Brenden Nel.
Ireland have named their strongest lineup for Saturday’s test match against the Springboks, with veteran Conor Murray set to earn his 100th cap on the day.
The Irish coaching team have handed inexperienced but talented winger Robert Baloucoune, who local fans will know from his exploits with Ulster and more recently with Emerging Ireland last month in Bloemfontein, on the wing as they named a virtual full-strength team to face the World Champions.
Coach Andy Farrell has named the exact same forward pack that beat New Zealand in the third-test decider in Wellington in July with an all-Leinster front row of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheeah and Tadhg Furlong alongside Tadgh Beirne and James Ryan in the second row. The only name missing was Ulster’s skipper Iain Henderson, who has been ruled unavailable for selection with a knee injury.
The backline is just as dangerous, with Johnny Sexton captaining the side and the in-form duo of Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw in the midfield.
In a surprising move, Hugo Keenan starts at fullback despite not being able to play since July due to a knee injury, while Connacht’s flyer Mack Hansen gets the other wing spot in the absence of James Lowe.
Ireland have the advantage of having five players who were involved in the last game between the two sides in 2017 with Murray, Sexton, Henshaw, Peter O’Mahony and Furlong all starting six years ago in the victorious side against the Springboks.
Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan have never played for Ireland against South Africa but featured against the Springboks for the British and Irish Lions in the 2021 Test Series. Furlong, Henshaw and Murray also played in that Test Series.
Finlay Bealham has experience of playing the Boks as he was a replacement in the second test against South Africa in Johannesburg on the 2016 Tour.
Ireland captain Sexton will make his 109th appearance for Ireland this Saturday, becoming the country’s fifth most capped player of all time pushing current Forwards Coach Paul O’Connell into sixth position.
European Player of the year Josh van der Flier is on the openside for the Irish team.
Ireland squad: Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Mack Hansen, Johnny Sexton (captain), Conor Murray; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson Park, Joey Carbery, Stuart McCloskey.