The replacement of Peter O’Mahony as captain with Caelan Doris is one of four changes made by coach Andy Farrell to the Ireland team for Saturday’s second test of the Castle Lager Incoming Tour in Durban.
There was some speculation in the Ireland media that O’Mahony would drop out of the starting team after a quiet game in the 27-20 loss to the Springboks at Loftus last week.
That has come to pass, with O’Mahony playing this game off the bench to allow his Munster teammate Tadhg Beirne to move from the second row to blindside flank.
James Ryan comes in at lock in Beirne’s place.
As expected the two players we already knew were out injured as they had flown home earlier in the week, hooker Dan Sheehan and scrumhalf Craig Casey, are replaced by the experienced duo of Ronan O’Kelleher and Conor Murray respectively.
There is no evident big weakening of the Ireland team because of those players being absent as the replacements are also good players.
Our team for the second Test in Durban! ✊#TeamOfUs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) July 11, 2024
However, there has been an additional injury enforced change, with Bundee Aki, one of the best Ireland players at last year’s World Cup in France, ruled out because of the shoulder injury he suffered at Loftus.
Garry Ringrose, another player with plenty of international experience, will come in as Robbie Henshaw’s midfield partner but Ireland will miss the Connacht inside centre’s physical presence in the No 12 jersey.
The Ulster duo of Rob Herring (hooker) and Stuart McCoskley (outside back) plus Connacht scrumhalf Caolin Blade have been brought into the reserves for the Hollywoodbets Kings Park clash.
IRELAND TEAM: Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), James Ryan (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Andrew Porter (Leinster).
REPLACEMENTS: Rob Herring (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster).
COACH: Andy Farrell (ENG)