Ireland vs South Africa: Kick-Off Time, Channel, and Key Team News
Ireland kicks off their summer tour of South Africa with a Test match against the hosts this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
Where and When:
• Date: Saturday
• Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
• Kick-off Time: 4:00 PM Irish Time
Where to Watch:
• TV Channel: Sky Sports Action
• Streaming: Sky Go app
Team News:

Jamie Osborne is set for a challenging debut as Andy Farrell has selected the Naas native to start at full-back against the Springboks. This surprising selection sees Osborne fill Hugo Keenan’s role, showcasing Farrell’s confidence in his abilities.
Other notable selections include Robbie Henshaw maintaining the No. 13 jersey over Garry Ringrose, who is set to come off the bench. Craig Casey starts at scrum-half ahead of Conor Murray, while the bench features a 5/3 split with Ringrose wearing the number 23 jersey.
Ireland Starting XV:
• Full-back: Jamie Osborne
• Wings: Calvin Nash, James Lowe
• Centers: Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki
• Half-backs: Jack Crowley (fly-half), Craig Casey (scrum-half)
• Front Row: Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong
• Second Row: Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy
• Back Row: Peter O’Mahony (captain), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris
Bench:
• Front-row replacements: Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham
• Back-five replacements: James Ryan, Ryan Baird
• Backs replacements: Conor Murray, Ciarán Frawley, Garry Ringrose
Jamie Osborne’s inclusion is a major talking point, with many anticipating how he will handle the pressure of facing an experienced Springbok backline at altitude, including tactical kickers like Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, and Willie le Roux.
Join Ruaidhri O’Connor and Will Slattery on The Left Wing podcast for an in-depth discussion on Osborne’s debut and other key aspects of the match. Available on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.