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Three backline changes as Ireland team named to face Springboks
By Liam Heagney
Andy Farrell has announced an Ireland team to host the Springboks this Saturday in Dublin that has three changes - all in the backline - from the XV that started the historic series-clinching win over the All Blacks last July. It was 16 weeks ago when the Irish defeated New Zealand in Wellington 32-22 in their most recent outing and the world’s current No1 ranked rugby country have now unveiled the lineup that it believes can quieten world champions South Africa at Aviva Stadium.
With the starting pack unchanged from the 2-1 Test clincher in New Zealand, Ireland have included scrum-half Conor Murray, midfielder Garry Ringrose and winger Robert Baloucoune at the expense of Jamison Gibson-Park, the suspended Bundee Aki and the injured James Lowe.
Baloucoune missed the summer tour of New Zealand through injury but recently started against both the Griquas and the Cheetahs for Emerging Ireland. He will start on the right wing, with Mack Hansen switching across to the left wing berth that Lowe had occupied four months ago.
Aside from the Murray/Gibson-Park switch, the only other change on the Ireland bench from four months ago sees Stuart McCloskey named as the 23rd man in place of Keith Earls. Meanwhile, Nathan Doak, Tom Stewart and Stewart Moore have now joined the extended Ireland squad.
Ireland (vs South Africa, Saturday)
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 23 caps
14. Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 44 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 60 caps
11. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 6 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 108 caps CAPTAIN
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 99 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 46 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 10 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 60 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 33 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 46 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 87 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 20 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 28 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 118 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 25 caps
19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 8 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 30 caps
21. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 20 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 35 caps
23. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 6 caps
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Latest Comments
SCW really dislikes Eddie, doesn't he?
His words in 2019 before the RWC final that he now says should have resulted in Eddie's firing:
"Was Saturday’s sensational World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand England’s greatest ever performance? Yes, unquestionably, would be my answer."
So let's fire the coach one game later? Duh!
Go to commentsIreland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
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