Dublin: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt today brought in some big men in the midfield to run hard at the Springboks in Saturday’s Test at the Aviva Stadium.
Ex-Auckland Blues Super Rugby fullback Jared Payne has been handed his Test debut at outside centre after qualifying on residency grounds for his new country recently, and he will be partnered by a 21-year-old in Robbie Henshaw, who is usually an outside centre, but will run out at No 12 against South Africa.
"That (extra size) wasn't the motivation behind it, but it's good to have that size as well as I have coached against Jean de Villiers in Super Rugby, and Jan Serfontein is also big and strong," Schmidt said yesterday.
The New Zealander named a side including former British and Irish Lions wing Tommy Bowe, who has been brought back into the side at No 14, while Conor Murray returns at scrumhalf after missing the last Test against Argentina in June.
Schmidt made seven changes in total to the starting line-up, with Peter O’Mahony coming in on the flank, while there are two injury-enforced additions in the front row – Jack McGrath replacing Cian Healy at loosehead prop and Sean Cronin filling in for Rory Best, who failed to recover from a groin problem this week.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 7.30pm South African time.
Ireland Team
15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Paul O’Connell (captain), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Jack McGrath. Bench: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Mike McCarthy, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Felix Jones.