Updated: Friday, 07 Nov 2014 11:25 | Comments
Donncha O'Callaghan believes Ireland's new-look centre partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne could actually improve the side's defence, despite the fact that they have never played together.
Henshaw (21) will make his second Ireland start at 12 for Saturday's Test against South Africa (Live on RTE2 from 1630) with Payne (29) making his debut in the famed 13 shirt.
O'Callaghan, who has played 94 times for Ireland, highlighted the height and weight advantage Henshaw (6'3) and Payne (6'2) have over the classic Irish pairing of retired Brian O'Driscoll (5'10) and the injured Gordon D'Arcy (5'11), which he believes will be vital against the physical challenge posed by the Springboks.
"I think our centres are ideal for the type of game that's going to be played against them," O'Callaghan told RTÉ Sport.
"Whereas Drico and Darce were kind of chop tackle and the other one would get in and poach the ball like a seven, these guys can really affect the advantage line and knock fellas back over it. They're both massive strong men.
"South Africa and Italy are the ones that really stand out for physicality. You know exactly where they're coming.
"Especially against South Africa. We know they're going to come down that channel and I'd be excited to see what these guys can do.
"The team we've picked is big and won't step back and they're the exact same. We know they're going to take us on physically. It'll be war out there."
O'Callaghan cautioned that Henshaw and Payne will take time to forge a partnership at centre but the Munster lock, who hasn't played for Ireland since the Six Nations draw with France in 2013, believes head coach Joe Schmidt and defence coach Les Kiss can improve their game.
"It really is a combination there and we've been lucky that we've had Drico and Darce over the years who really play well together.
"I think that they could really hit form. They need a bit of buy-in for each other, not to [just] go out and look after their own back but to really put in a big performance. They're both very capable of that.
"They won't be thrown into it, not under Joe Schmidt. They'll get incredible guidance on what they have to do, especially under Les Kiss in defence. I think they can actually add something to our defence.
"Johnny [Sexton] is a massive presence there, to run the show and guide them through because your first cap is over like that, and that's what it'll feel like to those lads. But I think they're well able."
Simon Zebo is also in the starting line-up after a try-scoring performance in Ireland's June series victory over Argentina and four tries in seven games for Munster this season.
The 24-year-old was a controversial omission from Schmidt's Ireland squad throughout the victorious 2014 Six Nations campaign but O'Callaghan thinks that rather than mope, the Cork man has responded admirably to the disappointment and is well placed to establish himself on the wing.
"The selection is fair," said O'Callaghan.
"The best team always goes out. Simon will know that.
"He has massive talent. What we see in [Munster] training, I don't know has he totally reflected it yet on the international stage, he has a bit on the provincial stage.
"He's in a massively competitive position. We're blessed with wingers, and he's got a great opportunity and I think he's more than willing to take it up.
"He's addressed it in the right manner and played really well and that's all you can do. Keep knocking at the door and keep putting in big performances and playing well.
"The only thing I would say about him is that he has terrible taste in music!"
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