Irish skipper O'Mahony drops to bench for second SA Test
Written by I Dig Sports![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_sport/d4cd/live/5cf4e470-3f88-11ef-b159-b93470ac06c5.jpg)
Farrell was always going to have to alter his team for what is the last game of a long season.
Scrum-half Craig Casey and hooker Dan Sheehan were both ruled out earlier this week with injuries sustained in the first Test while centre Bundee Aki misses out after picking up a shoulder injury in the second half last weekend which leads to Garry Ringrose's return with Robbie Henshaw switching to inside centre.
The vastly experienced Conor Murray will start at nine with Connacht's Caolin Blade among the replacements.
Ronan Kelleher is promoted into the starting side in place of Sheehan with Ulster's Rob Herring, a Cape Town native, coming onto the bench.
Resisting the temptation to go for the 6:2 bench split used during the Six Nations, centre Stuart McCloskey takes Ringrose's place among the replacements.
Doris' interactions with first-Test referee Luke Pearce in the closing stages of last weekend's game after O'Mahony's second-half departure has come in for some comment this week but Farrell strongly defended the Leinster back row's communication skills.
"His performance last week, never mind the leadership or the captaincy... he was outstanding.
"Also hes a calming influence. He's bright. The questions that he's going to the referees with are the right ones. His manner is very good as well."
Ireland: Osborne; Nash, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Crowley, Murray; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong; McCarthy, Ryan; Beirne, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: Herring, Healy, Bealham, Baird, O'Mahony, Blade, Frawley, McCloskey.