BREAKING: Ireland opt for 5-3 bench split to face Springboks

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named his match-day 23 to face the Springboks in their Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool B match at the Stade de France on Saturday, 23 September, with Bundee Aki set to win his 50th cap.

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The 33-year-old New Zealand-born centre has been in outstanding form in Ireland’s first two games, scoring four tries and being named man of the match in the 59-16 victory over Tonga last Saturday.

Irish talisman Johnny Sexton will captain a side that shows just one change from the one that started against Tonga, with Jamison Gibson-Park returning at scrumhalf.

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Conor Murray, Sexton’s long-time halfback partner, drops to the bench.

Alongside Murray on the bench will be Dan Sheehan, who has recovered from injury and replaces Rob Herring as the replacement hooker.

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Farrell resisted the temptation to match the Springboks’ 7-1 bench split but opting for a slightly more conventional 5-3 forwards-backs ratio.

The Irish are on a run of 15 successive Test victories, which includes one against the Springboks last November.

More to follow …

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TEAMS

South Africa

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19, Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach

Ireland

15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw