Opener.

Ireland are set to take on the Springboks in a two-Test series next month as one of rugby’s greatest modern rivalries enters its latest chapter.

The world champions will be out for revenge following their defeat to Ireland in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup, while Andy Farrell’s side will be out to prove they can still mix it up with the very best following their quarter-final exit.

Farrell has picked 35-man squad for the tour, with Jamison Gibson-Park out injured and Jack Conan unavailable for personal reasons. Mack Hansen also misses out while he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, with Hugo Keenan also unavailable after opting to represent Ireland at the Olympics.

Uncapped trio Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborn, and Cormac Izuchukwu are all included, as are Ulster’s Nick Timoney and Connacht’s Caolin Blade.

Ireland’s first game takes place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on July 6, where Leinster were infamously beaten in the semi-finals of the URC by the Bulls, and we’ve had a go at picking the team we want to see line out.

Possible Ireland team vs Springboks

15. Ciaran Frawley
14. Calvin Nash
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Conor Murray

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Peter O’Mahony (c)
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris

Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Cian Healy
18. Oli Jager
19. Ryan Baird
20. James Ryan
21. Craig Casey
22. Sam Prendergast
23. Garry Ringrose