2 weeks Ago By Martin Healy
Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team for the second Test with South Africa and injuries have forced the head coach into a number of changes. Both Dan Sheehan and Craig Casey were confirmed absentees after they both picked up injuries in the defeat last Saturday. Sheehan’s ACL injury is set to keep the Leinster star out for much of next season while Casey took a serious blow to the head after a brutal hit by now-former Munster teammate RG Snyman .
From the side that came up short in the 27-20 defeat last Saturday, Farrell has sprung four changes to his starting XV. Conor Murray has stepped into the scrum-half role to replace Casey after having come on last week as his replacement. The same applies to Ronan Kelleher as the Leinster man comes into the front row in place of Sheehan, where he will partner Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong.
Ireland skipper Peter O’Mahony, meanwhile, has been dropped to the bench to make way for James Ryan. Joe McCarthy will team up with Ryan in the engine room while Tadhg Beirne moves to the back row by Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris. Murray is partnered by his Munster teammate Jack Crowley at 10 while Garry Ringrose nd Robbie Henshaw starting in midfield, with no Bundee Aki in the squad.
The back three also remains the same with one-cap star Jamie Osborne again lining out at 15 along with James Lowe and Calvin Nash on the flanks. Jamie Osborne, Calvin Nash, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Andrew Po.
