Ireland v S Africa: Teams

Ireland full-back Rob Kearney is expecting a physical encounter against South Africa at Croke Park on Saturday.

However Kearney, who went head-to-head with the Springboks on the summer tour with the British and Irish Lions, insists the Irish are up for the challenge.

He said: "Certainly as players we don't physically underestimate ourselves.

"I don't think over the last year we've been shown up at the breakdown and maybe only against the All Blacks last year were we physically off the mark.

"But since then I don't think we've been shy in wanting to bring that physical aspect to our game.

"This week is going to be as physical as it is ever going to be for us.

"If we don't bring that physical aspect to our game we are going to be in for an awakening.

"Slow down their ball and quicken up our ball. It's just a simple basic of rugby."

Restored

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named Jonathan Sexton at fly-half for the clash - with Ronan O'Gara missing out.

Tommy Bowe, Paddy Wallace, Cian Healy, Donncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace all return after missing the win over Fiji.

South Africa have restored captain John Smit to hooker for the clash, with Tendai Mtawarira and BJ Botha coming into the front row.

Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger and Wynand Olivier also return after missing the win over Italy.

And Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn insists the tourists are focused on finishing the season on a high.

"It's been an awesome year," said the 25-year-old. "After the great season that we've had we just want to end it on a high note.

"I think losing on Saturday (would) make us forget about the great year and we'd only think about the loss against Ireland. We have to go out on a high."

The Springboks were hit by a late blow when Bakkies Botha failed a fitness test on a back injury. The lock's place in the starting line-up has been taken by Andries Bekker, while scrum-half Francois Hougaard is added to the bench.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Sean O'Brien, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Gordon D'Arcy.

South Africa (revised): 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Andries Bekker, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Francois Hougaard, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Dewald Potgieter, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Jean de Villiers.