Paul O'Connell has backed Stuart McCloskey to step in and do the right job for Ireland against South Africa after a late hamstring injury to Robbie Henshaw.
With Bundee Aki still serving a suspension at least McCloskey, the in-form big Ulster centre, seems made for a clash against the beefy world champions and will partner Garry Ringrose at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.
The switch also sees Leinster's Jimmy O'Brien promoted to the matchday squad and pulled from tonight's Ireland A clash with New Zealand XVs at the RDS Arena.
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O'Brien's place in the Ireland A line-up goes to Calvin Nash, with his fellow Munster back Shane Daly added to the bench.
McCloskey, 30, last played for Ireland against the USA in July of last year at Test level, and did line out for Ireland A against the Maori All Blacks in July after he was called up to the tour as a late injury replacement.
He made his Ireland debut in 2016 against England at Twickenham but was never a favourite of Joe Schmidt.
In fact, he has made six Test appearances over seven seasons - and Andy Farrell has spoken this week of how close McCloskey has come to featuring in matchday squads only to lose out because of the quality he has in Henshaw, Ringrose and Aki.
"We’re very confident about Stuart," said O'Connell. "But I think Andy is obviously disappointed, and we’re all disappointed on Robbie, he’s a world class player, playing very well.
"But I think Stuart has had some tough days where he’s been up here training and a coach has had to have a conversation with him before the team is announced on Wednesday, and that’s happened an awful lot.
"He’s always stuck with it and seems to be getting better and better and better as a player, and has never been disheartened. So it’s brilliant for us.
"The whole Emerging Ireland tour, trying to get the game against New Zealand A, it’s all about getting competition for places.
"It’s all about getting people into the room so that all the players know who the competition is, all the players know they have a shot of getting picked and making it to the World Cup.
"So for Stuart to come in and play, it just broadens the group again for us and we’d be really confident in his ability and his smarts, the experience he has in that position, it’s a great replacement for us."
McCloskey's provincial colleague Rob Baloucoune is another in the backline who will need to step up, having made two Test appearances to date - both last year against Italy and Argentina.
While the late chance provides Ireland head coach Andy Farrell to have a look at another World Cup hopeful under intense pressure, O'Connell insists the emphasis remains on winning the clash.
The Limerick man said: "I don’t think it’s about bringing people in. We’re trying to win the game, we’re trying to get what we believe is our best team out on the field.
"And there is a lot of feel to defending. Every team has a system, but you have to have feel within that system and the more you play together, the more you work together, the more you know one another, the easier that feel is.
"I suppose Robbie and Garry have played together a lot more, but Stu has the experience, he has the smarts to be able to come in and do a good job there.
"It’s a real big strength of Robert Baloucoune’s, I wouldn’t be an expert in the backfield or winger decision-making, but from what I’ve seen and what you hear the coaches speak about, that decision-making at the end of the line is a real big strength of Robert’s.
"Like a few of the other wingers then, he has the speed to fix things when things go wrong, so they are two really good players and it’s brilliant to have them in the team."
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