Lambie steps out of comfort zone

It is not just the Irish taking a step into the unknown tomorrow night at the Aviva Stadium.

The South Africans are similarly stretched in terms of injury but absenteeism has nothing to do with choosing 22-year-old Pat Lambie to make just the second of his 17 Springbok starts at fly-half.

After Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer lost the services of Johan Goosen in the final game of his side’s disappointing Rugby Championship campaign, he could have simply restored Morné Steyn to the famous green number 10 jersey. After all, Steyn, the metronomic place-kicker, had delivered countless victories for his country and started the first seven Tests of the season before Goosen was given his chance.