Ireland team named for series opener with South Africa
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Here we go.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named his team for this weekend’s huge series opener with South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Peter O’Mahony will captain the team as Ireland get their Summer Tour underway against the Springboks in Pretoria, while Leinster’s Jamie Osborne will win his debut cap as he’s named to start at full-back.
Osborne is joined in the Ireland back three by Calvin Nash and James Lowe, as Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw start in the midfield.
There is an all-Munster half-back pairing as Craig Casey and Jack Crowley are named at scrum-half and out-half respectively.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong start in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindslide flanker, with Josh van der Flier at openside and Caelan Doris at number eight.
Farrell has strong options on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Ryan Baird providing the forward reinforcements, with Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Garry Ringrose completing the Ireland Match Day 23.
Ireland (v South Africa)
15. Jamie Osborne*
14. Calvin Nash
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Craig Casey
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Ryan Baird
21. Conor Murray
22. Ciaran Frawley
23. Garry Ringrose
*Denotes uncapped