...Peter Stringer will earn his 70th cap for Ireland on Saturday. The Corkman made his debut against Scotland back in 2000 - he has played against South Africa in four previous matches...

Rory Best comes in at hooker for his first start, while scrum half Peter Stringer is set to earn his 70th cap in Ireland's first Test match in the Guinness Autumn Series against South Africa.

The Ireland team to face the Springboks on Saturday (Lansdowne Road, kick-off 5pm) shows one change to the starting XV that took to the field for last June's 37-15 defeat to Australia in Perth.

Ulster's Best comes into the side in place of the injured Jerry Flannery to win his fourth cap and first full start for Ireland, having gained his previous caps as a replacement against New Zealand, Australia (2) and Wales last season. Munster half-back Stringer has been named at scrum half for his 70th appearance in green.

...Ulster's Rory Best will make his first full start for Ireland on Saturday. His previous caps have all come as a replacement - against New Zealand and Australia in November 2005, against Wales in the 2006 RBS 6 Nations and against Australia again on the 2006 summer tour...

The replacements bench sees the return of Frankie Sheahan, Malcolm O'Kelly and Simon Easterby, who all missed the summer tour due to injury. They will be joined by uncapped Ulster man Paddy Wallace.

Meanwhile, Munster flanker David Wallace has been passed fit to fill his usual openside role after recovering from the flare up of an ankle injury.

The team will be captained by Leinster's Brian O'Driscoll for the 31st time.

IRELAND TEAM AND REPLACEMENTS (v South Africa, Lansdowne Road, 5pm, Saturday, November 11):

- Player/Club/Caps -

15 - Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster) 66
14 - Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 48
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster) (capt) 67
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 23
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 9
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster) 63
9 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster) 69

1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster) 40
2 - Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 4
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster) 65
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 27
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 36
6 - Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 5
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster) 30
8 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster) 14

Replacements:

16 - Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 24
17 - Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster) 2
18 - Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 80
19 - Simon Easterby (Llaneli) 49
20 - Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster) 2
21 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster) 0
22 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester) 42

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