Ireland’s expected team to face South Africa includes a certain, uncapped Bundee

Joe Schmidt is not going too far astray with his selections but there are still a couple of big backline calls.

The Ireland head coach will name his starting XV to face South Africa on Thursday afternoon and we expect Bundee Aki to be named in midfield.

Schmidt’s team selections often contain one call few can nail down and that may yet be in midfield. Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey is back in the Irish squad after being left out in the cold for the past year and is Aki’s main competition for the No.12 jersey.

Aki is likely to get the nod due to his past, successful partnership with Robbie Henshaw at Connacht.

Rory Best will captain the side from the front row and will pack down with fellow 2017 Lion Tadhg Furlong. The unexpected call here is Cian Healy, who is in good form, starting at loosehead. Jack McGrath is believed to have picked up a knock in training.

The back row – Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and CJ Stander – should be the same as the units that started the Six Nations victory over England. O’Brien is just a game back from a spell out so Rhys Ruddock stands ready – as he did in 2014 – if The Tullow Tank falters.

The second row is tougher to call but we fully expect Iain Henderson to make up one half of the pairing. We suspect Devin Toner will be the safe selection, with James Ryan and Kieran Treadwell getting a run-out later in the series. Ryan and Ultan Dillane are dicing it out for the bench role.

Half backs, again, look after themselves. Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton continuing where they left off on the Lions Tour.

Rob Kearney has played just once since his return from yet another hamstring injury but he is said to have run plenty of lines in Irish camp and has the backing of Schmidt. Keith Earls and hot wing prospect Jacob Stockdale are expected to make up the back three with the Leinster fullback.

IRELAND (Predicted XV)

Rob Kearney

Keith Earls
Robbie Henshaw
Bundee Aki
Jacob Stockdale

Johnny Sexton
Conor Murray

Cian Healy
Rory Best (captain)
Tadhg Furlong

Iain Henderson
Devin Toner

Peter O’Mahony
Sean O’Brien
CJ Stander

Replacements: James Tracy, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery, Andrew Conway.

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