2 weeks Ago
NUMBER EIGHT CAELAN Doris will captain Ireland in their second Test against South Africa on Saturday in Durban [KO 4pm Irish time, Sky Sports] after Peter O’Mahony was dropped to the bench. Ireland boss Andy Farrell has brought second row James Ryan into his starting XV, with Tadhg Beirne moving to blindside flanker as O’Mahony is included in a 5/3 bench split. The other changes to Ireland’s starting side see Garry Ringrose come into midfield in place of Bundee Aki, who misses out on the matchday 23, while Rónan Kelleher and Conor Murray replace the injured Dan Sheehan and Craig Casey at hooker and scrum-half.
Connacht scrum-half Caolin Blade, Ulster hooker Rob Herring, and Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey have all come onto the Irish bench. Jamie Osborne will win just his second cap at fullback after making his debut in last weekend’s defeat to the Springboks, while this will be Doris’ second time leading Ireland from the start of a game having done it for the first time against Italy in this year’s Six Nations. O’Mahony was installed as Farrell’s Ireland captain following the retirement of Johnny Sexton after last year’s World Cup but the Munster man has now been dropped to the replacements bench.
A win on Saturday would see Ireland draw their series with the Springboks and Farrell will hope O’Mahony can provide an impact off the bench. 15. Jamie Osborne 14.
Calvin Nash 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Robbie Henshaw 11.
James Lowe 10.
