Ireland Squad for Saturday

Wasps flanker Johnny O’Connor is the only uncapped player in the Irish team to play South Africa announced today (Tuesday, 9th November) by Irish Coach Eddie O’Sullivan. The 24 year old Galway born open side joins a side that sees three changes in personnel and one positional switch from the team that lost to South Africa (26 – 17) in Cape Town during the summer tour.

In the backs, Geordan Murphy returns to the team to win his 24th cap following his withdrawal from the Cape Town test due to illness. Shane Horgan moves from the right wing position he occupied in that game to win his 32nd cap at centre.

Denis Hickie makes his first return to an Irish team in almost a year following his achilles injury sustained during the World Cup in Australia to take his place on the wing for his 45th cap. The forwards see only one personnel change, with Johnny O’Connor coming into the back row at No.7.

The Ireland team will again be captained by Brian O’Driscoll for the 16th time in winning his 53rd cap (25 tries).

The Ireland team to play South Africa in the permanent tsb international in Lansdowne Road on Saturday, 13th November at 14.45hrs is as follows:

15 – Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College)
14 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College) Captain
12 – Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne)
11 – Denis Hickie (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)
10 – Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution)
9 – Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon)
1 – Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones)
2 – Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College)
3 – John Hayes (Munster – Bruff)
4 – Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster)
6 – Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
7 – Johnny O’Connor (Wasps)
8 – Anthony Foley (Munster – Shannon)

Replacements:

16 – Frank Sheahan (Munster – Cork Constitution)
17 – Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon)
18 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution)
19 – Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College)
20 – Guy Easterby (Leinster – Blackrock College)
21 – David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon)
22 – Kevin Maggs (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins)

Not considered due to injury: Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster – Lansdowne) {Groin}.