Andy Farrell backs his big hitters in Ireland team for South Africa
The Ireland head coach has brought out the big guns for this crucial clash.
Andy Farrell is sticking with several frontliners after his Ireland team to face South Africa was announced, asking them to dig deep for the third weekend in a row.
IRELAND TEAM (vs. SOUTH AFRICA)
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) (33 caps)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) (18)
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) (54)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) (49)
11. James Lowe (Leinster) (23)
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) (115)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) (27)1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) (56)
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) (23)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) (69)
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) (43)
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) (57)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) (98)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) (54)
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) (33)Replacements: Dan Sheehan, David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw
Having set an Irish record for a World Cup winning margin, against Romania, and defeated Tonga 59-16, Farrell's men will face a much stiffer test against reigning world champions, South Africa. His match-day 23 is named at 3pm (Irish time) on Thursday.
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John Fogarty on challenge facing this Ireland team
Ahead of the game, this Saturday, assistant coach John Fogarty spoke about the challenges that await this Ireland team against the Springboks. He also spoke about the internal selection debates that will be raging on.
"We're clear in our heads as a [coaching] group," he told reporters. "We’ve no problem having difficult conversations.
"We're so lucky we’ve got such a good group of players – that’s something that Andy [Farrell, head coach] has developed. When he first came in, he was adamant we needed to develop a big squad, be competitive across the pitch.
"It's not easy to pick a side, we’ve got options. But that sharpens us as a coaching group and the players are going to be ready."
On the Springboks going with a 7:1 bench split [forwards to backs], John Fogarty said, "As a group of forwards, we’re incredibly fit and powerful, we've prepared for the weekend. It’s going to be a battle, one we feel the players will be ready for."
HOUSE OF RUGBY WITH DARREN CAVE & CJ STANDER
Related articles:
- Two big calls in the Ireland team that should start against South Africa
- Robbie Henshaw puts personal ambitions to one side with selfless post-match comments
- Bundee Aki shows another side of himself before reminding us all of his best qualities
- Roy Keane cracks jokes with Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell at Ireland training camp
- Paul O'Connell on his most treasured jersey swap and toughest opponent
- Tommy Bowe backs Jack Crowley as World Cup 'deputy' to Johnny Sexton
