Whatever about the excitement Ireland fans might feel about seeing Tiernan O’Halloran and Stuart Olding start this Test, losing Jared Payne to a calf injury is a heavy blow for Schmidt.
Payne is a major loss. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
The 30-year-old was largely faultless for Ireland over the course of the first two Tests – being blasted into the ground by Ruan Combrinck aside – as he made an utterly convincing shift to fullback for Schmidt’s side.
His attacking ability, both as a first receiver and on the counter attack, was a shining light for Ireland, with his offloading game a particular pleasure in the opening Test.
Having already lost Robbie Henshaw to a knee injury, Payne’s failure to recover from his injury deprives Ireland of yet another key player.
Test for Tiernan
O’Halloran has his chance to genuinely get a feel for Test rugby after playing just four minutes off the bench last weekend and having no direct involvement.
O'Halloran steps in at 15. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
The closest he came to making a genuine physical contribution was leaning against JP Pietersen after the Boks wing had fallen on Andrew Trimble’s knock-on wide on the right. We can be certain O’Halloran is hungry for his opportunity.
The former Galway minor footballer has been superb all season for Connacht, his campaign culminating in an excellent display in the province’s Pro12 final success, but this is easily the biggest task of his career yet.
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The 25-year-old has always been a confident man and his mental resolve is likely to be tested under the kicking game of Elton Jantjies and Willie le Roux – which, admittedly, has been relatively poor up to this point.
Somewhat compensating for the loss of Payne’s proven Test attacking quality is the promise O’Halloran offers with his ambitious counter-attacking and line-breaking instinct.
O’Halloran has the technical tools to thrive for Ireland and now must match them to the all-important mindset.
Another new centre combination
Ireland will have a new centre partnership for the third weekend in a row.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
As Ulster team-mates, Stuart Olding and Luke Marshall know each other well, albeit that they have not lined out together on the pitch extensively.
Olding looked relatively lightweight last weekend, losing a number of collisions with Damien de Allende that allowed the Boks to surge forward. He is, however, an extremely intelligent player and Schmidt will hope to see more of Olding’s skill come to the fore.
Marshall was superb in the opening Test before being rested last weekend, with his return coming in the 13 shirt that he made his own in Ulster this season. The 25-year-old looked totally composed in Cape Town and now suddenly finds himself as oldest member of Ireland’s midfield.
Olding and Marshall must keep de Allende far quieter than was the case last weekend, while ensuring that their playmaking abilities allow Ireland to thrive in attack.
Healy gets the bench nod
In selecting Connacht flyer Matt Healy on the bench for Saturday, Schmidt ensures that every single member of his 32-man touring squad will have had some matchday involvement for Ireland.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Healy deserves a shot at Test rugby after a stunning season for Connacht in which he has gradually improved the consistency, ball-carrying security and defensive awareness sides of his game that Schmidt had pinpointed as needing to grow.
27-year-old Healy being selected ahead of Craig Gilroy, who was good last weekend, shows that Schmidt was genuine when stating his intention to use every member of his squad on tour.
Healy is part of an Ireland bench that looks primed to make a big second-half impact, a week after Schmidt’s use of the replacements in the second Test proved ineffective.
Healy may only get a short stint on the pitch, or none at all, but the likes of Ultan Dillane, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Rhys Ruddock are sure to make their presence felt.
Murray’s milestone
Saturday will mark cap number 50 for Conor Murray and the scrum-half’s importance will be greater than usual, given the losses of Henshaw and Payne.
Murray is a key man. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
While the likes of captain Rory Best, number eight Jamie Heaslip, wings Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls, and lock Devin Toner remain in the team, Murray will be the link between the forwards and the relatively inexperienced midfield.
His kicking game, sniping threat from close range, defensive physicality and generally reassuring touch will all be vital in Port Elizabeth.
While Murray racks up his 50th cap and has many more to come presumably, Eoin Reddan is on the bench as his playing career ends after Saturday’s contest.
The 35-year-old has announced that he will retire after the third Test and it would be fitting to see him on the pitch as Ireland close out what they hope will be a series success.
A great servant to Irish rugby, Reddan deserves a final winning note.
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Tiernan's test, impact bench and more Ireland team talking points
JOE SCHMIDT HAS named his matchday 23 to face South Africa in the third Test in Port Elizabeth on Saturday [KO 4pm Irish time, Sky Sports].
Check out the 23 here.
Payne blow
Whatever about the excitement Ireland fans might feel about seeing Tiernan O’Halloran and Stuart Olding start this Test, losing Jared Payne to a calf injury is a heavy blow for Schmidt.
The 30-year-old was largely faultless for Ireland over the course of the first two Tests – being blasted into the ground by Ruan Combrinck aside – as he made an utterly convincing shift to fullback for Schmidt’s side.
His attacking ability, both as a first receiver and on the counter attack, was a shining light for Ireland, with his offloading game a particular pleasure in the opening Test.
Having already lost Robbie Henshaw to a knee injury, Payne’s failure to recover from his injury deprives Ireland of yet another key player.
Test for Tiernan
O’Halloran has his chance to genuinely get a feel for Test rugby after playing just four minutes off the bench last weekend and having no direct involvement.
The closest he came to making a genuine physical contribution was leaning against JP Pietersen after the Boks wing had fallen on Andrew Trimble’s knock-on wide on the right. We can be certain O’Halloran is hungry for his opportunity.
The former Galway minor footballer has been superb all season for Connacht, his campaign culminating in an excellent display in the province’s Pro12 final success, but this is easily the biggest task of his career yet.
The 25-year-old has always been a confident man and his mental resolve is likely to be tested under the kicking game of Elton Jantjies and Willie le Roux – which, admittedly, has been relatively poor up to this point.
Somewhat compensating for the loss of Payne’s proven Test attacking quality is the promise O’Halloran offers with his ambitious counter-attacking and line-breaking instinct.
O’Halloran has the technical tools to thrive for Ireland and now must match them to the all-important mindset.
Another new centre combination
Ireland will have a new centre partnership for the third weekend in a row.
As Ulster team-mates, Stuart Olding and Luke Marshall know each other well, albeit that they have not lined out together on the pitch extensively.
Olding looked relatively lightweight last weekend, losing a number of collisions with Damien de Allende that allowed the Boks to surge forward. He is, however, an extremely intelligent player and Schmidt will hope to see more of Olding’s skill come to the fore.
Marshall was superb in the opening Test before being rested last weekend, with his return coming in the 13 shirt that he made his own in Ulster this season. The 25-year-old looked totally composed in Cape Town and now suddenly finds himself as oldest member of Ireland’s midfield.
Olding and Marshall must keep de Allende far quieter than was the case last weekend, while ensuring that their playmaking abilities allow Ireland to thrive in attack.
Healy gets the bench nod
In selecting Connacht flyer Matt Healy on the bench for Saturday, Schmidt ensures that every single member of his 32-man touring squad will have had some matchday involvement for Ireland.
Healy deserves a shot at Test rugby after a stunning season for Connacht in which he has gradually improved the consistency, ball-carrying security and defensive awareness sides of his game that Schmidt had pinpointed as needing to grow.
27-year-old Healy being selected ahead of Craig Gilroy, who was good last weekend, shows that Schmidt was genuine when stating his intention to use every member of his squad on tour.
Healy is part of an Ireland bench that looks primed to make a big second-half impact, a week after Schmidt’s use of the replacements in the second Test proved ineffective.
Healy may only get a short stint on the pitch, or none at all, but the likes of Ultan Dillane, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Rhys Ruddock are sure to make their presence felt.
Murray’s milestone
Saturday will mark cap number 50 for Conor Murray and the scrum-half’s importance will be greater than usual, given the losses of Henshaw and Payne.
While the likes of captain Rory Best, number eight Jamie Heaslip, wings Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls, and lock Devin Toner remain in the team, Murray will be the link between the forwards and the relatively inexperienced midfield.
His kicking game, sniping threat from close range, defensive physicality and generally reassuring touch will all be vital in Port Elizabeth.
While Murray racks up his 50th cap and has many more to come presumably, Eoin Reddan is on the bench as his playing career ends after Saturday’s contest.
The 35-year-old has announced that he will retire after the third Test and it would be fitting to see him on the pitch as Ireland close out what they hope will be a series success.
A great servant to Irish rugby, Reddan deserves a final winning note.
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