Dan Sheehan returns as Ireland at full-strength for pivotal clash with the Springboks

Hooker Dan Sheehan has returned from injury to take his place in the Ireland 23 for their Rugby World Cup encounter with South Africa.

The front-rower has been absent since picking up a foot problem in the warm-up victory over England in August.

Sheehan missed the games against Romania and Tonga, but has made a timely return to the Ireland squad for their match in Paris on Saturday.

Ronan Kelleher starts

He replaces Rob Herring on the bench, with Ronan Kelleher continuing in the number two jersey as Sheehan builds match fitness.

The only other notable inclusion also comes among the replacements with Jack Crowley preferred to Ross Byrne, who was previously Johnny Sexton’s fly-half back-up during the Six Nations.

There is one alteration to the run-on side that defeated Tonga 59-16 last weekend as Jamison Gibson-Park, who was rested against the Pacific Islanders, comes in for Conor Murray.

Gibson-Park partners captain Sexton at half-back in a backline which is as expected. Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe once again combine in the back three, while Garry Ringrose and the in-form Bundee Aki continue at centre.

Up front, Andy Farrell has named a powerful and talented pack. Ireland have a big job to do to negate the Springboks, but they are fully-loaded for the encounter.

Props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, either side of hooker Kelleher, will hope to produce a platform in the scrum, while Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan and flanker Peter O’Mahony need to be steady at the lineout.

World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier and the irrepressible number eight Caelan Doris join O’Mahony in the back-row.

On the bench, there is still no sign of Jack Conan, who remains on the sidelines due to a foot injury, but it gives an opportunity to the athletic Ryan Baird.

David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Murray and Robbie Henshaw are the other replacements.

The team

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw

Date: Saturday, September 23
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

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