Sean O'Brien has been drafted on to the Ireland bench for Saturday’s clash against South Africa at Croke Park after Denis Leamy failed to recover from the ankle injury he picked up against Fiji last weekend.
The Munster backrow was undergoing rehabilitation throughout the week and while he has progressed well, the injury has not recovered fully to allow him to take his position among the replacements for what is expected to be a high-octane contest.
Leinster’s O’Brien came on for Leamy in the 44th minute at the RDS last week to win his first cap.
The Springboks will name their side this afternoon after delaying selection due to a long injury list
Ireland (v South Africa):R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), P Wallace (Ulster), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), T O'Leary (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements:S Cronin (Connacht), T Buckley (Munster), L Cullen (Leinster), S O'Brien (Leinster), P Stringer (Munster), R O'Gara (Munster), G D'Arcy (Leinster)
Argentina Jaguares (v Ireland A):B Agulla; F Merello, M Viazzo, M Avramovic, T De Vedia; S González Iglesias, M Landajo; J Gómez, A Tejeda, G De Robertis; T Roan, M Galarza; A Guzmán, L Senatore, B Macome. Replacements:M Cortese, N Chaparro Tetaz, R Bruno, I Pasman, F Albarracin, N Sanchez, JP Estelles
