JOE SCHMIDT HAS handed South Africa native Quinn Roux his Test debut among five changes to his starting line-up ahead of Saturday’s rematch with the Springboks at Ellis Park Stadium [KO 4pm Irish time, Sky Sports 1].
Roux will start against his native land. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Craig Gilroy, Stuart Olding, Tadhg Furlong, Roux and Rhys Ruddock have all been included in Ireland’s starting XV ahead of the crunch rematch with Springboks in Johannesburg.
Connacht fullback Tiernan O’Halloran and Ulster back row Sean Reidy could make their Ireland debuts off the bench.
A gruelling season that began with a pre-World Cup training camp back in July of the last year, the physical toll of defending with 14 men for almost an hour last weekend, and playing at altitude has influenced Schmidt’s thinking with regards to freshening up his side.
Gilroy replaces Keith Earls and will form an all-Ulster back three alongside Jared Payne and Andrew Trimble while Olding comes in for his provincial team-mate Luke Marshall at inside centre.
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Olding, who last started for Ireland against Georgia back in November 2014, will link up with Robbie Henshaw in a new-look Irish midfield. Paddy Jackson and Conor Murray continue at half-back after their outstanding displays at Newlands.
Mike Ross, who has been virtually ever-present during Schmidt’s time in charge, drops out for his Leinster team-mate Tadgh Furlong, who makes his first Test start having won all of his six previous caps from the bench.
Most surprising of all the changes is Roux’s promotion to the starting line-up alongside Devin Toner, having been on the periphery of Connacht’s starting side this season.
Furlong replaces Mike Ross at tighthead. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
In starting, Roux will play against his native country. The 25-year-old initially moved to Ireland to join Schmidt at Leinster in 2012, before making a switch to Connacht in 2014, first on loan before signing permanently.
With CJ Stander unavailable due to his one-match ban, Iain Henderson moves from the second row to the blindside, with Ruddock coming in for Jordi Murphy at openside flanker.
Ruddock last started in the number seven shirt for Ireland as a late call-up for Chris Henry on the morning of Ireland’s 29-15 victory against the Boks in November 2014 at the Aviva Stadium. Jamie Heaslip remains at number eight.
Earls, Ross, Marshall, Murphy, Ultan Dillane, Sean Cronin, and the suspended Stander are all absent from the matchday 23, with Richardt Strauss, Dave Kilcoyne, Donnacha Ryan, Reidy and O’Halloran all coming onto the bench
Ireland (v South Africa):
15. Jared Payne 14. Andrew Trimble 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Stuart Olding 11. Craig Gilroy 10. Paddy Jackson 9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath 2. Rory Best (captain) 3 Tadhg Furlong 4. Devin Toner 5. Quinn Roux 6. Iain Henderson 7. Rhys Ruddock 8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss 17. Dave Kilcoyne 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Donnacha Ryan 20. Sean Reidy 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Ian Madigan 23. Tiernan O’Halloran
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Roux set for Ireland debut as Schmidt makes five changes for second Test
Rory Keane reports from Johannesburg
JOE SCHMIDT HAS handed South Africa native Quinn Roux his Test debut among five changes to his starting line-up ahead of Saturday’s rematch with the Springboks at Ellis Park Stadium [KO 4pm Irish time, Sky Sports 1].
Craig Gilroy, Stuart Olding, Tadhg Furlong, Roux and Rhys Ruddock have all been included in Ireland’s starting XV ahead of the crunch rematch with Springboks in Johannesburg.
Connacht fullback Tiernan O’Halloran and Ulster back row Sean Reidy could make their Ireland debuts off the bench.
A gruelling season that began with a pre-World Cup training camp back in July of the last year, the physical toll of defending with 14 men for almost an hour last weekend, and playing at altitude has influenced Schmidt’s thinking with regards to freshening up his side.
Gilroy replaces Keith Earls and will form an all-Ulster back three alongside Jared Payne and Andrew Trimble while Olding comes in for his provincial team-mate Luke Marshall at inside centre.
Olding, who last started for Ireland against Georgia back in November 2014, will link up with Robbie Henshaw in a new-look Irish midfield. Paddy Jackson and Conor Murray continue at half-back after their outstanding displays at Newlands.
Mike Ross, who has been virtually ever-present during Schmidt’s time in charge, drops out for his Leinster team-mate Tadgh Furlong, who makes his first Test start having won all of his six previous caps from the bench.
Most surprising of all the changes is Roux’s promotion to the starting line-up alongside Devin Toner, having been on the periphery of Connacht’s starting side this season.
In starting, Roux will play against his native country. The 25-year-old initially moved to Ireland to join Schmidt at Leinster in 2012, before making a switch to Connacht in 2014, first on loan before signing permanently.
With CJ Stander unavailable due to his one-match ban, Iain Henderson moves from the second row to the blindside, with Ruddock coming in for Jordi Murphy at openside flanker.
Ruddock last started in the number seven shirt for Ireland as a late call-up for Chris Henry on the morning of Ireland’s 29-15 victory against the Boks in November 2014 at the Aviva Stadium. Jamie Heaslip remains at number eight.
Earls, Ross, Marshall, Murphy, Ultan Dillane, Sean Cronin, and the suspended Stander are all absent from the matchday 23, with Richardt Strauss, Dave Kilcoyne, Donnacha Ryan, Reidy and O’Halloran all coming onto the bench
Ireland (v South Africa):
15. Jared Payne
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Stuart Olding
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (captain)
3 Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Quinn Roux
6. Iain Henderson
7. Rhys Ruddock
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Donnacha Ryan
20. Sean Reidy
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Ian Madigan
23. Tiernan O’Halloran
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