Heaslip named Ireland skipper

Jamie Heaslip will lead Ireland in Saturday's Guinness Series opener against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.

The Leinster number eight has been named captain in the injury-enforced absence of Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Rory Best.

Ireland's growing casualty list has forced coach Declan Kidney to name a new-look team, with Simon Zebo starting at full-back and Richardt Strauss featuring at hooker.

Ireland team: S Zebo (Munster); T Bowe (Ulster), K Earls (Munster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Strauss (Leinster), M Ross (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), M McCarthy (Connacht), P O'Mahony (Munster), C Henry (Ulster), J Heaslip (Leinster, capt).