Five Munster Players In Ireland Starting XV

Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, John Hayes, Paul O’Connell and Anthony Foley are all included in the Ireland starting XV for the game against South Africa on Saturday in Lansdowne Road (2.45).

Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, John Hayes, Paul O’Connell and Anthony Foley are all included in the Ireland starting XV for the game against South Africa on Saturday in Lansdowne Road (2.45).

Three other Munster squad members Frank Sheahan, Marcus Horan and Donncha O’Callaghan are named on the replacement bench.

Former Connacht player Johnny O’Connor is the only uncapped player included in the squad but this was widely anticipated once the Wasps flanked had been called into the squad.

Elsewhere it is a selection along predictable lines as coach Eddie O’Sullivan sticks by the tried and trusted. There will be some surprise perhaps that Girvan Dempsey is considered a better bet at full-back than Geordan Murphy who is playing regularly in that position for Premiership joint leaders Leicester Tigers but all in all it is a selection that will raise few eyebrows.

Meanwhile Munster coach Alan Gaffney is not expected to name his side for the Celtic League clash with Gwent-Newport Dragons until later in the week, possibly Thursday afternoon.

John Kelly joins Alan Quinlan on the doubtful list after he went over on an ankle training with the Ireland squad on Monday. Quinlan also damaged an ankle on Saturday against Ulster.

The Ireland team to play South Africa:

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 Shannon) 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).

Ireland v South Africa Permanent TSB International Venue: Lansdowne Road Date: Saturday, 13th November. Kick-Off: 14.45hrs