Time for Ireland to seize the day

New faces and fresh bodies abound in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team to face the Springboks this Saturday.

As they chase a momentous first series victory in South Africa at Ellis Park, there will be five changes to the side which won the opening game 26-20 in Cape Town last Saturday, with a Test debut for Connacht’s South African-born lock Quinn Roux and two further potential debutants among the replacements in provincial team-mate Tiernan O’Halloran and Ulster back rower Sean Reidy.

There are long-awaited returns for Ulster backs Craig Gilroy and Stuart Olding while Tadhg Furlong gets his first start at tighthead prop as veteran incumbent Mike Ross is given the weekend off.