Captain: Jamie Heaslip
Ireland have named Jamie Heaslip as captain for their opening November international against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The Leinster number eight will be leading his country for the first time when he walks the team out in Dublin as part of a side that contains one new cap in the starting team and a further three uncapped players among the replacements.
Richardt Strauss will earn his first cap for Ireland at hooker in the front-row alongside his provincial colleagues Cian Healy and Mike Ross.
Mike McCarthy is selected in the second-row alongside Donnacha Ryan, with Chris Henry selected to start at openside in the back-row, while Peter O'Mahony is selected at blindside.
In the backs, Simon Zebo will be earning his first start for Ireland at full-back, in a back three that has plenty of experience in Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe, who will be earning his 50th international cap for Ireland since making his debut against the USA in 2004.
Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray are selected as the half-backs with Gordon D'Arcy and Keith Earls completing the starting line-up as the centre partnership.
Among the replacements, forwards David Kilcoyne, Michael Bent and Iain Henderson are all in line to make their international debuts should they be called into the game.
Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Iain Henderson, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Fergus McFadden.
Date: Saturday, November 10
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Luke Pierce (England)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Comments
curates_egg says...
Zebo is probably better suited to fullback than wing (great under the high ball, a big boot and his tackling frailty would be less exposed). Would still have preferred to see him play there for Munster first. Still, fingers crossed.
Persisting with Murray is just a joke.
Other than that, it is a actually a good development team. Some good balance with the experience available.
Posted 14:54 08th November 2012
papachinzo says...
Expected nothing less than a poor selection from Kidney. Heaslip is the only real leader in the team, very surprised Kidney actually gave him the nod...
None the less, as long as Kidney is in charge, I'll be supporting the enemy.
Posted 14:41 08th November 2012
spike19 says...
Some intriguing combinations here, a very UN-Kidney like selection but I suppose he has been forced into it. Putting Zebo at fullback is a massive gamble in what is his first international start, the Boks will surely look to target him early on.
If Ireland are to have a chance of winning the untested backrow combo of O'Mahony / Henry / Heaslip must impose themselves early on, winning turnovers, making carries and leading a mean defence will be the order of the day against a Bok loose trio bristling with menace.
If South Africa plan to target Zebo then Ireland surely should target the inexperienced Pat Lambie. D'arcy at 12 and O'Mahony at 7 should ensure he has no armchair ride. Sexton must have stamp his authority as he has done so often in the blue of leinster, not letting his young counterpart settle in the opening 20 will be key to Ireland's chances.
The scrum looks as though it could be an issue with Ireland giving away 40 kilos against this massive Boks scrum thankfully not including giants Bismark Du Plessis, Bekker and Oosthuizen. If the pressure starts to tell Conor Murray must ensure his feed is accurate and delivery fast, his battle with the tactically brilliant Pienaar should be unrelenting.
Leaders are paramount and with so many stricken from the fray with injuries Kidney will look to the likes of Healy, Ross, Ryan, Sexton, D'arcy, Earls and Bowe to back up there new captain and lead the charge.
The task ahead is huge but at home anything can happen and with a fired up crowd hopefully this new look Irish side will grow wings and fly over these South African invaders!
Posted 14:37 08th November 2012
irishfan says...
delighted for mccarthy, the form 2nd row in the country. Touhy should at least be on the bench. Cant believe he left out marshall and cave. Zebo will have a very busy day defensivly as earls nd darcy(why is he still there) will be no match for da SA centers. also gilroy can feel dissappointed hes not on da bench instead of mcfadden. a very munster heavy team which i do not like
Posted 14:37 08th November 2012
GCP_jones says...
@melkdave
Don't get too depressed its only a game of rugby, who would you change considering al the injuries?. Reddan/Marshall at 9 I would have had Bowe in the mid-field, Earls at full back with Zebo on the wing. It would have been nice to see Touhy and Madigan on the bench.
@ jappers1983....
Downey is injured, played the last Munster match with a broken hand.
Unlike the Boks, Ireland can't afford to ship 6 injuries to their 1st choice selection and still hope to get a result as-well-as a real lack of moral in the camp after the 60 - 0 defeat to the AB's.
Good Luck to Kilcoyne too by the way
Posted 14:36 08th November 2012
sextons_on_fire says...
Oh great, the Zeb-stile at fullback...and aroooooound we go LOL...Earls at 13 is just taking the piss at this stage. Here's hoping the Boks win at a canter so we can finally give that turnip-head Kidney a one-way ticket back to Cork hahahahahahaha BOOM
Posted 14:30 08th November 2012
indiana says...
Oh no if this is the best DK can do with the two best teams in Europe and Munster who are always good and Connaught who are playing their best ever rugby I despair. Its good to see some new names and faces but I have to agree with the other posts that centre pairing is like an open invitation to the South African Team. I would at least have put Cave on the bench.
Posted 14:28 08th November 2012
wexman says...
I'm actually really happy with this team/squad considering the situation we are in. Zebo may not be steady Girvan Dempsey but the boy can run. And I am really happy for Mike McCarthy, he is a quality player so hopefully he can step up.
Posted 14:23 08th November 2012
dodgyrog says...
we really are in the midst of an injury crisis, up front its the best we have still standing(the coach mustn't rate touhy at all) Henry& omahony will give ther all at flank. the backline is very light looking, has zebo played at fullback at any other age level?
Posted 14:21 08th November 2012
griffi60 says...
Tuohy and Cave not even in the squad, WTF??!! How on earth are Mike McCarthy and O'Callaghan ahead of Tuohy in the pecking order? Have I missed him being injured or something?
Saffas must be rubbing their hands together seeing that midfield. I predict a long afternoon for Zebo as the Boks run over Darcy and Earls time after time.
I also still don't get how Marshall is not in the team. By far and away the form scrum-half in Ireland this season, why not chuck him in when the game is basically a friendly?
Kidney needs to go now and give someone a chance to get hold of the squad before the 6 Nations.
Posted 14:01 08th November 2012
3in4 says...
Heaslip at captain is the best option, given all the injuries. A born leader and one of the best No. 8s in Europe.
Zebo at 15 is quite a gamble - has he played there at all for Munster? Didn't do so well in NZ in June, if I remember rightly.
Earls and Murray, eughh.
Posted 13:51 08th November 2012
kid_diablo says...
happy with: McCathy, henry, strauss, kilcoyne, henderson
not happy with: zebo, murray,
Posted 13:38 08th November 2012
Stag91 says...
Am I the only one gearing up for an Autumn of discontent? Selection is a joke, Zebo tackles like a turnstyle
Posted 13:35 08th November 2012
highschool says...
Can zebo play at 15? Happy for Chris Henry. It will be tight the first half but then SA will take charge and empty their bench. SA by 5 - 10 pts
Posted 13:30 08th November 2012
makemehappy says...
I just can't believe Murray is even in the squad. Just don't see him as being a realistic first choice at regional level even!
Posted 13:23 08th November 2012
GCP_jones says...
My God Deccie losing the run of himself (once again only after his hand is forced), picking the form 2nd row in Ireland even though he's playing for Connacht(whats the best he won't be there next season?), great to see McCarthy getting a run.
I still think we've shipped too many injuries even with the Boks having their own concerns in that regard to win the match.
Message to Captain Heaslip 'Get the finger out and start playing like a No8 will you'.
Good Luck to Michael Bent, Iain Hendersion and Richardt Struass.
Posted 13:16 08th November 2012
99call says...
Just glad to see that McFadden isnt starting, Tuohy has to be wondering what he has to do to get into the matchday squad and Im glad to see Henry got the nod at 7.
JDV will be running at Earls all day so hes got to show hes up to playing 13 at this level we know what hes capable of going forward but i think we may be on the back foot for most of this game
Anyway very excited about Zebo at 15 hes got a good boot and some real pace so hopefully we can get him coming into the line and not just hanging back taking kicks all day as we know thats what the SAFAs will do
Posted 13:15 08th November 2012
BODsGODmisspelt says...
Mike McCarthy, what! I'm deligthed Donkey O Callaghan isn't even on the bench.
McLaughlin should feel hard done by as I don't think O'Mahony desrves a spot.
Looking forward to seeing Zebo at the back too. I know he has defensive weaknesses but you can't deny the quality of his attacking.
'Mon Ireland
Posted 13:14 08th November 2012
jappers1983 says...
Earls and Darcy in the centres, and Zebo at 15.....oh dear. Defensively, this is very fragile.
Ireland have better combinations than this. Kidney is setting them up for a beasting from South Africa. Downey would have been ideal at 12 for this game but there we go. South Africa by at least 15.
Posted 13:09 08th November 2012
melkdave says...
Have to say i havent been looking forward to seeing the Ireland team selection ,since i saw the original squad selections,never mind the injury toll that followed.And i have to say i havent been disappointed,that imo is a dreadfull team overall,the one redeaming feature the all Leinster frontrow.So depressed now im not even going to comment on why that is just so bad anymore Had such hopes for Ireland aswell
Posted 13:06 08th November 2012