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.

Instead, Meyer has opted to start Lambie despite full-back being his chosen position and one in which he has played the majority of his Tests. Still, Dublin was where that international career began two years ago in a rain-drenched debut at the Aviva and Lambie did so as a second-half replacement for Steyn, at fly-half and with Meyer expecting similarly tough conditions he is looking to the youngster’s boot to cause Ireland problems, both from the tee and in open play.

“I’m very excited, I have very special memories of playing in Dublin,” Lambie said.

“My tactical game is something that I’ve been working on. I guess when you’re in the mix with the Springboks, we do a lot of kicking out there and there’s a lot of pressure in terms of tactics.

“I definitely think that I’ve grown as a player and can compete there.

“I’m feeling comfortable about my goal-kicking with the Sharks and hopefully it goes well on Saturday. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Lambie is equally relishing the chance to play next to Ulster’s exiled Bok Ruan Pienaar at half-back and happy to play the junior partner.

“Obviously I know him from when he was with the Sharks before he came over to Ireland.

“It’s great he has that experience, he knows the opposition a bit better than we do and so far that’s worked well. I’m sure he’ll take a lot of responsibility and make my life easier on Saturday.”