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Andy Farrell makes 4 Ireland changes for second Boks test
By Ian Cameron
Ireland has announced their team ahead of the crucial second Test against South Africa scheduled for this Saturday in Durban.
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The match comes as Ireland looks to level the series after the reigning world champions South Africa ground out a tightly contested 27-20 victory in Pretoria.
Ireland were left reeling after the clash due to an extensive injury list. Scrum-half Craig Casey and hooker Dan Sheehan have both been ruled out for the rest of the tour due to injuries sustained during the opening Test and their absence has seen Andy Farrell make adjustments in the team’s lineup.
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Caelan Doris will captain Ireland for the second time, while Jamie Osborne retains his position at full-back after his Test debut in Pretoria, joining James Lowe and Calvin Nash in an unchanged back three. Garry Ringrose partners Robbie Henshaw in midfield, while Conor Murray and Jack Crowley form an all-Munster half-back pairing.
The forward pack includes Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the second row. Tadhg Beirne moves to blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside, and Doris captains from number eight.
Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, and Peter O’Mahony provide forward replacements, with Caolin Blade, Ciaran Frawley, and Stuart McCloskey completing the match day 23.
15. Jamie Osborne
14. Calvin Nash
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Conor Murray
1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
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Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Ryan Baird
20. Peter O’Mahony
21. Caolin Blade
22. Ciaran Frawley
23. Stuart McCloskey
Well played Ireland.What a gutsy win. The Boks had it but Ireland had other ideas. Brilliant game of rugby and again well done Ireland - the best team won.,
33 minutes in Ireland are going to go for unvontested scrums.
Where is Bundee Aki?
The Boks will get more fluent in their attacking play the more they play together. New style, new system, new coaches, new set up. Nothing happens overnight. You don't learn something new and suddenly it's perfect at execution. No, the Boks will be even better. The Irish will lose, but I am glad fringe players are now getting a chance to gain that experience in the Irish camp. They are great players too, but don't get the game time they need. It's always Leinster, then Irish team. Same players. Glad we get to see other great players of the Irish too. Win or lose, it will be a great game
No Sheehan, no Aki, no JGP, no Keenan, no OMahoney...if the boks wins so-what, it they lose then….this feels like a trap game. I want to see more ruthlessness from the boks
I’m predicting Ireland dine out on Bok complacency and make mince meat of the South Africans this weekend.
I can’t believe they dropped Bundee Aki. Crazy.
Ireland are a good team but unless Boks get a red card I just can’t see them losing … Durban humid and slow and they revert back to type and grind the Irish to Zombie
Would be an all-timer achievement if Ireland can get the win. We’d been very lucky in that run of 17 wins to not be affected by key injuries and with the rub of the green in certain games.
Boks will obviously back themselves after last week but Ireland have rarely lost two on the bounce under Farrell. Sets it up brilliantly.
A really good team, Smart move getting Beirne to flank. Gives them an extra jumper and plenty of pace and power to combat the Boks. Expect O’Mahony to give colossal impact off the bench against the bomb squad but Ireland a bit light on quality in the reserves. Reckon SA will have the edge there. Ireland will also miss the go forward Aki gives them in midfield but Henshaw has plenty of power and some silky skills to match.