Sexton wins out-half role for South Africa match
Leinster’s Jonathan Sexton has won his personal battle with Ronan O’Gara to play out-half for Ireland against South Africa on Saturday.
The team shows six changes to the starting 15 from the team that played against Fiji.
There are three changes in the backline with Tommy Bowe returning to the team on the right wing in place of Shane Horgan. Paddy Wallace moves from the bench to start at inside centre with Gordon D'Arcy named in the replacements. Tomas O'Leary is selected in the starting team at scrumhalf.
The forwards have also seen three changes with Cian Healy starting at loosehead after recovering from his shoulder injury and Tony Buckley is retained in the replacements.
Donncha O'Callaghan also returns to the side in the second row with Leo Cullen moving to the replacements. David Wallace, who was not involved in the match 22 against Fiji, is selected at openside.
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Replacements:
16 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
18 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
