(Adds details, quotes)
* South Africa native Strauss handed Irish debut
* O’Driscoll, O’Connell, Kearney among long injury list
By Padraic Halpin
DUBLIN, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Injury-ravaged Ireland will field an inexperienced pack against South Africa on Saturday with Springbok native Richardt Strauss making his debut in the first of two tests with big implications for coach Declan Kidney.
Ireland, who face Argentina later this month, could slip out of the world’s eight highest-ranked teams and find themselves unseeded for the World Cup in 2015 if they have a bad November and other results go against them.
Kidney is also fighting to earn a new contract when his current one ends next year and will have to do it the hard way without first-team regulars Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Paul O’Connell, Stephen Ferris, Sean O’Brien and Rory Best.
Connacht second row Mike McCarthy, Ulster flanker Chris Henry and Munster duo Peter O’Mahony and Simon Zebo were among those named to fill the gaps and will each start an international for just the second time.
“You always hoped it would be drip fed rather than on block but you need to be planning for the future,” said Kidney who handed the captaincy to number eight Jamie Heaslip in O’Driscoll’s absence.
Continued…
