Rory Keane reports from Port Elizabeth

JARED PAYNE WILL miss Ireland’s series decider against South Africa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday [KO 4pm Irish time].

Payne misses out in a big blow for Ireland. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

The Ulster fullback has taken a limited part in training this week due to a calf injury, with Joe Schmidt opting to hand Connacht’s Tiernan O’Halloran his first Test start in the 15 shirt, having made his debut from the bench in the dying minutes of last weekend’s 32-26 defeat at Ellis Park.

Connacht flyer Matt Healy is in line to make his Test debut having been named on the bench as backline cover. Leinster scrum-half Eoin Reddan, who announced his retirement earlier today, is also among the replacements.

Luke Marshall returns to the starting line-up, having sat out the second Test at Ellis Park, and forms a new-look midfield partnership with Ulster team-mate Stuart Olding.

Keith Earls is recalled to the left wing in place of Craig Gilroy while Paddy Jackson and Conor Murray continue their partnership at half-back.

Mike Ross comes back in at tighthead and links up with Rory Best and Jack McGrath while Iain Henderson moves from blindside to lock alongside Devin Toner. Quinn Roux, who made his Test debut in Johannesburg last Saturday, drops out of the matchday 23 as Ultan Dillane comes back onto the bench as cover.

Having served his one-match ban for a collision with Pat Lambie in the opening Test at Ellis Park, which earned the Munster flanker a red card, CJ Stander is handed the number six shirt, with the recalled Jordi Murphy and the ever-present Jamie Heaslip completing the back row.

Ireland:

15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart Olding
11. Keith Earls
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Conor Murray

1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Mike Ross
4. Iain Henderson
5. Devin Toner
6. CJ Stander
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Jamie Heaslip

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Finlay Bealham
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Matt Healy

Referee: Glen Jackson [New Zealand]

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Combrinck and Whiteley start for Springboks in third Ireland Test

‘You might have young players suddenly see an opportunity to become an Olympian’