Ireland Team To Play South Africa

The Ireland team to play South Africa in the final match of the GUINNESS Series 2009 has been named and shows six changes to the starting fifteen from the team that beat Fiji 41-6.

There are three changes in the back-line, starting with Tommy Bowe’s return 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 has also been selected to start at number 9, with Peter Stringer providing scrum half cover on the bench.

O’Leary will have a new half-back partner in Jonathan Sexton, whose impressive debut in the win over Fiji has helped him get the nod over the more experienced Ronan O’Gara.

Up front, there are also three changes in personnel, with Cian Healy starting at loosehead prop after recovering from his shoulder injury and Tony Buckley retained in the replacements. 

Donncha O’Callaghan also returns to the side in the second row, taking over from the benched Leo Cullen. Meanwhile, David Wallace, who was not involved in the matchday 22 against Fiji, returns at openside flanker.

IRELAND TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v South Africa, GUINNESS Series 2009, Croke Park, Saturday, November 28, kick-off 2.30pm):

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)

Related Links –

Can’t make the game? You can still download the Ireland v South Africa match programme to your iPhone – click here.

Don’t have an iPhone? Don’t worry! You can keep up-to-date with all the Irish rugby news on your mobile – text IRFU to 51000.