An injury ravaged Ireland take on South Africa at the Aviva Stadium at 3.15pm as the November Internationals kick off.

Jamie Heaslip will captain Ireland for the first time today when they take on South Africa in their opening game of the November Series.

Declan Kidney’s handed Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss a debut against his native country.

Munster winger Simon Zebo will be in unfamiliar role of full back while Mike McCarthy is in the second row.

But speaking on The Panel, Connacht captain Gavin Duffy believes Zebo and adjust well to the change of position.

 

South Africa have been forced to make a late change to their starting XV.

 ‘The Beast" Tendai Mtawarira has been ruled out after he had a recurrence of mild heart palpitations this morning.

 It means former Leinster prop CJ Van der Linde comes in while current Leinster prop Heinke Van der Merwe is promoted to the subs bench.

 Ireland’s Cian Healy says the Beasts absence won’t make their job any easier.

 

Ireland:

 

15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Cian Healy, 2 Richardt Strauss, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Mike McCarthy, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Jamie Heaslip (captain).

 

South Africa:

 

15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 CJ Van der Linde, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Juandre Kruger, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Willem Alberts, 8 Duane Vermeulen.