Ireland v S Africa: Teams
Ireland coach Declan Kidney insists he is refusing to under-estimate South Africa despite their troubled build up.
Last Updated: 06/11/10 8:01am
Ireland coach Declan Kidney insists he is refusing to under-estimate South Africa despite the world champions enduring a troubled build up to their tour.
The Springboks finished bottom on the Tri-Nations table, while 13 players have pulled out of the trip due to injury.
However Kidney claims the tourists will still be a threat, particularly with feared second row pairing Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield teaming up once again.
"They didn't have Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith playing last year and I wasn't too unhappy about that, but now they're back," said Kidney.
"They're a very strong outfit and it will be a big challenge.
"They have the most experienced second row combination in the world.
"Bakkies and Victor have enormous experience. If they're not the best, then they must be close to it."
New look
Kidney welcomes back a number of key players for the opening Test of the Guinness Series, with the likes of Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace and Stephen Ferris all returning.
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers insists he has had little choice but to make a number of changes for the match.
Uncapped Deon Stegmann, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Bakkies Botha, Zane Kirchner, Ruan Pienaar and Bjorn Basson come into the side following the end of the Tri-Nations, while Patrick Lambie is named on the bench as cover for Jean de Villiers.
"It's a new-look side but with 13 season-ending injuries it couldn't be anything else," said de Villiers.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donncha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Keith Earls.
South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie.