Irish put Best foot forward but nothing ‘cast in stone’

EDDIE O’Sullivan sprang no surprises with the team and replacements he announced for Saturday’s clash with South Africa.

He always intended to pick his best side for the first match of autumn, although it is surprising that Saturday’s starting 15 shows only one change from the last game of the summer tour Down Under.

Even that was enforced, with Ulster’s Rory Best coming in at hooker in place of the injured Jerry Flannery. However, in choosing Best over Frankie Sheahan, O’Sullivan took a dubious decision and many might even go so far as to say that his provincial background played a key part in Best’s inclusion. As distinct from much of last season, there are now three Ulstermen — Rory and Neil Best and Andrew Trimble — in the starting line-up.