O'Sullivan names unchanged team to face Springboks

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan yesterday named an unchanged team to face the Springboks in the first of two tests on Sunday.

Centre Brian O'Driscoll will captain Ireland for the 14th time against an inexperienced South African lineup that have been widely tipped to become the first team from the Republic to lose a series to the Irish.

"This is as positive as it gets - everyone was fit and available from the last game [against Scotland in the Six Nations in March] and it's really good to be able to continue with the same team," O'Sullivan said.

"We've been a bit lucky with injuries, but we've managed a long season well and the medics and physios have done a great job."

Ireland: G. Dempsey, S. Horgan, G. D'Arcy, B. O'Driscoll (capt), G. Murphy, R. O'Gara, P. Stringer, A. Foley, D. Wallace, S. Easterby, P. O'Connell, M. O'Kelly, J. Hayes, S. Byrne, R. Corrigan. Res: F. Sheahan, M. Horan, D. O'Callaghan, A. Quinlan, G. Easterby, D. Humphreys, K. Maggs.

South Africa: G. du Toit, B. Paulse, M. Joubert, W. Julies, H. Mentz, J. van der Westhuyzen, F. du Preez, P. Wannenburg, J. Smith, S. Burger, V. Matfield, B. Botha, E. Andrews, J. Smit (capt), O. du Randt. Res: H. Shimange, F. Rautenbach/CJ van der Linde, Q. Davids, J. Cronje, J. Conradie, J. Fourie, B. Russell.