THE Ireland rugby team has been announced for Saturday's clash with South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.
New Zealand born Bundee Aki will make his international debut for Ireland this Saturday against the Springboks.
The prospect of Aki's inclusion in the Ireland team has been one of much contention in the last week amongst the Irish rugby world, considering his New Zealand nationality.
Here's what coach Joe Schmidt had to say on the issue:
'It's never irrelevant' - Joe Schmidt addresses the Bundee Aki question as the New Zealander gets set to make his @Irishrugby bow #rterugby pic.twitter.com/OVh5I8M2jN
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) November 9, 2017
The Connaught star will play inside centre alongside Leinster's Robbie Henshaw.
Aki has qualified to tog out for Ireland thanks to the updated residency rule, which lengthened the qualification period from three years to five years.
In 2015–16, Connacht's title-winning season, Aki was named the league's player of the season.
If you're one of those questioning Aki's legitimacy to play for Ireland, his rendition of Fields of Athenry in a Galway pub may win you over.
Elsewhere in Irish team news, Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale will make his first home start on the left wing, while Shmidt has deemed Munster’s Keith Earls not fit for action after the in-form wing picked up a knock at training, which has threatened his participation against Fiji and Argentina as well.
In comes provincial team-mate Andrew Conway, who will win his fourth cap.
Ireland: Rob Kearney, Andrew Conway, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Devin Toner, Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery, Darren Sweetnam.
Kick off at the Aviva is at 5.30pm Saturday evening.
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