South Africa unchanged for Ireland opener

05 November 2014 12:01

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer stuck with the same starting XV that beat world champions New Zealand last time out when he named Wednesday his side to play Ireland in the Springboks' European tour opener in Dublin on Saturday.

The only change to the matchday 23 involved in the 27-25 defeat of New Zealand in Johannesburg last month -- the All Blacks' first loss in nearly two years -- was on the bench where Coenie Oosthuizen took over from the injured Marcel van der Merwe at replacement prop.

Saturday's match is the first of a tour that also sees the Springboks play 2015 World Cup hosts England, Italy and Wales.

South Africa (15-1)

Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein. Jean de Villiers (capt), Bryan Habana; Handré Pollard Francois Hougaard; Duane Vermeulen Teboho "Oupa" Mohoje, Marcell Coetzee; Victor Matfield, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen

Source: AFP