Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier recalled to Ireland team to face South Africa

Sam Prendergast retains the number 10 jersey  for the Boks' visit 

LEADING MAN: Sam Prendergast at Ireland training at the  IRFU High Performance Centre. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier have been recalled to the Ireland starting line-up following injury with Sam Prendergast retaining the number 10 jersey for the biggest test of his international career against top-ranked double world champions South Africa this Saturday.

Ringrose’s return from the hamstring strain which has sidelined him since playing 80 minutes against New Zealand on November 1, coincides with a first start of this month’s Test window for Bundee Aki in a fresh centre partnership while Andrew Porter returns at loosehead prop after making way for Paddy McCarthy’s first Ireland start in last Saturday’s 46-19 victory over Australia. 

The other change to that starting team which racked up a record win over the Wallabies sees van der Flier selected at openside flanker for his first appearance since that defeat to the All Blacks three weeks ago. The back-rower, like Ringrose, sat out the wins over Japan and Australia with a hamstring strain and his return sees a switch back to No.8 for Ireland captain Caelan Doris as Jack Conan moves to the bench.

Ireland are otherwise unchanged with last Saturday’s hat-trick hero Mack Hansen continuing at full-back in a back three with wings Tommy O’Brien and James Lowe while Sam Prendergast gets the opportunity from head coach Andy Farrell to build on his impressive start against the Wallabies with a first start against the Springboks in his 13th Test appearance, once again partnered by scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.

There is an unchanged second row of James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne with van der Flier and Doris partnered in the back row by blindside flanker Ryan Baird in his fifth straight start in the number six jersey following the retirement of Peter O’Mahony.

Our team to face South Africa! 👊 pic.twitter.com/luN9dUZgBl

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 20, 2025

Paddy McCarthy and Conan are joined among the forward replacements by hooker Rónan Kelleher, tighthead Finlay Bealham, and lock/flanker Cian Prendergast while the backline reinforcements are all from Munster, with Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and Tom Farrell covering, the latter in line to earn his second Test cap following a debut at outside centre against Japan.

The head coach, who will face the media at Aviva Stadium later on Thursday afternoon, has steeled his players for their toughest examination of the November window as the back-to-back world champions arrive in Dublin looking for a first win on Irish soil since 2012.

"South Africa are the world champions and we know the challenge that awaits us this weekend,” Farrell said. “Whenever you face a top side you know that you have to be on top of your game and that you will be tested and we'll look to build on the momentum from last weekend and approach the game positively.

"The players were galvanised by the support (last Saturday) and it makes such a positive point of difference when you're at home. There’s familiarity and respect between both teams and I know how excited the squad is to represent Ireland to the best of our ability for our last home game of 2025."

IRELAND (v South Africa): Mack Hansen (Connacht); Tommy O’Brien (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster) – captain.

Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), P McCarthy (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Jack Conan (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), Tom Farrell (Munster).