, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Deon Fourie, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux. 3:39PM Ireland have three Tests to negotiate this autumn - South Africa, Fiji and Australia. But in truth only one of them will provide a true gauge of where they stand a year out from the World Cup and only one really matters. Yes, you've guessed it, it's this clash against the Springboks. The side ranked No 1 face the XV ranked No 3 in a heavyweight encounter that Andy Farrell will want to win in order to emphasise that his side is the one to beat for the title next year. Ireland go into the Test off the back of the){kind=link}
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…Josh van der Flier up against Pieter-Steph du Toit. The two back-rowers are key men for their sides and if they can get on top of their opposite number that would provide a huge boost to their side’s chances of a win today.
The hosts’ centre has been ruled out through injurywith in-form Ulster midfielder Stuart McCloskey coming into the starting lineup.
McCloskey, 30, will win his seventh cap since making his debut in 2016. A superb season so far has put him next in line to Henshaw, his centre partner on Saturday Garry Ringrose and the suspended Bundee Aki ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Leinster utility back Jimmy O’Brien could win his first cap after being added to the bench for the opening test of Ireland’s November series.