Under-21 World Championship: UCD student Cillian Willis returns to the Ireland team for the third and final pool match of the IRB Under-21 World Championship match against South Africa at the Liceo ground in Mendoza today (7pm Irish time).
The scrumhalf was on the bench for the second round game against Samoa last Monday and came on as a late substitute to help Ireland achieve their fourth try and the all-important bonus point. Willis replaces UCC's Gerry Hurley, who had an impressive debut start for Ireland.
The other change in the side that defeated Samoa 29-21 is on the wing where the Belfast Harlequin Paul McKenzie resumes after being unavailable for selection in the last round. He replaces the double try scorer against Samoa, Dan Riordan.
That Ireland face a mighty task against the hugely impressive South Africans is not in dispute. South Africa, past under-21 world champions, and under-19 world champions this year in Durban, have already shown their form with a convincing win over England and a demolition of Italy in their opening game.
"We can't hide from the fact that it's a massive challenge," said Ireland coach Mark McDermott. "None of the players in this Ireland side has ever played against a South African team.
"Their game is based round speed and power. They can scrum and maul very well and know all about taking route one. They're blessed with immense pace and it's that pace that gets them through the gaps. All our players have got to be on top of their game defensively.
"We'll be massive underdogs but I think that if we can keep control we can rise to the occasion. Ultimately it's a matter of us playing our own game," said McDermott.
While they can't influence what happens elsewhere Ireland will still have one eye on the results from the other matches. If Ireland can prise a bonus point from their game against South Africa then they could still achieve a place among the middle group of four countries (fifth to eighth).
The matches that could affect Ireland are Italy v Samoa, England v France, Argentina v Wales, and Scotland v Canada. The best-case scenario for Ireland would be for wins by Samoa, France and Argentina. But nothing will be as clean cut as that.
IRELAND: R McCarron (UCD); P Hurley (UCC), A Trimble (Ballymena), G Stafford (Lansdowne), P McKenzie (Belfast Harelquins); G Steenson (Dungannon) captain, C Willis (UCD); G Maxwell (Dungannon), S Philpott (Saracens), J Andress (Belfast Harlequins), R Noonan (UCC), R Caldwell (Dungannon), K McLaughlin (UCD), C Henry (Malone), S Ferris (Dungannon). Replacements: J Merrigen (Corinthians), R Loughney (Galwegians), T Richardson (Buccaneers), A Kavanagh (Garryowen), G Hurley (UCC), J Sexton (St Mary's College), D Riordan (Corinthians).
