Ireland v South Africa (Sat)

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL: IRELAND v SOUTH AFRICA
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 28 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT Coverage: Live coverage on BBC2, BBC Radio Ulster MW and the BBC Sport website

Jonathan Sexton made a superb debut against Fiji last week

Jonathan Sexton has usurped Ronan O'Gara for the Ireland number 10 jersey ahead of Saturday's eagerly-awaited clash with South Africa at Croke Park.

Coach Declan Kidney has gone for the young Leinster fly-half after his five-star showing last week against Fiji.

There are six changes from that game with Cian Healy, David Wallace, Donncha O'Callaghan, Tommy Bowe, Paddy Wallace, and Tomas O'Leary all returning.

Denis Leamy has overcome injury to be named amongst the replacements.

Also on the bench is Munster's Tony Buckley who gets in ahead of Ulster's Tom Court.

Peter Stringer gets the replacement scrum-half role instead of Eoin Reddan, and sits beside his long-time partner O'Gara.

Not since the retirement of Ulster's David Humphreys five years ago has O'Gara found himself under any pressure, and dropped.

While Sexton's inclusion will be called a shock, it was not totally unexpected that he got the call.

Cian Healy returns to the Ireland loose-head berth to face South Africa

Since Humphreys's retirement, Ireland have had trouble finding cover for O'Gara, although Ulster's Paddy Wallace has proved a very able deputy when the need arose.

Sexton, though, showed no nerves during his international debut last week and produced a mature performance, including a 100 per cent kicking record.

Under the tutelage last season of Argentina great Felipe Contepomi, Sexton has become an astute on-field tactician with the added confidence to try something different and exciting.

Facing the Springboks will be the biggest test to date for the 24-year-old and one that will show whether he really is the real deal.

Kidney, meanwhile, has not tampered too much elsewhere.

He goes with Wallace as skipper Brian O'Driscoll's midfield partner after the Ulsterman had a fine game against the Wallabies two weeks ago.

As expected Cian Healy returns to the front row at Court's expense with Leo Cullen also giving way for the return of O'Callaghan.

Leamy is included in the replacements following what originally looked a serious ankle injury against Fiji. If he is forced out before the weekend, Leinster's Sean O'Brien will step in.

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Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O'Driscoll, P Wallace, K Earls; J Sexton, T O'Leary; C Healy, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, T Buckley, L Cullen, D Leamy, P Stringer, R O'Gara, G D'Arcy.