Jonathan Sexton has usurped Ronan O’Gara for the Ireland number 10 jersey ahead of Saturday’s eagerly-awaited clash with South Africa at Croke Park.

Coach Declan Kidney has gone for the young Leinster fly-half after his five-star showing last week against Fiji.

There are six changes from that game with Cian Healy, David Wallace, Donncha O’Callaghan, Tommy Bowe, Paddy Wallace, and Tomas O’Leary all returning.

Denis Leamy has overcome injury to be named amongst the replacements.

Also on the bench is Munster’s Tony Buckley, who gets in ahead of Ulster’s Tom Court.

Peter Stringer gets the replacement scrum-half role instead of Eoin Reddan, and sits beside his long-time partner O’Gara.

Not since the retirement of Ulster’s David Humphreys five years ago has O’Gara found himself under any pressure and dropped.

While Sexton’s inclusion will be called a shock, it was not totally unexpected that he got the call.

Since Humphreys’s retirement, Ireland have had trouble finding cover for O’Gara, although Ulster’s Paddy Wallace has proved a very able deputy when the need arose.

Sexton, though, showed no nerves during his international debut last week and produced a mature performance, including a 100% kicking record.