Sexton expected to be fit for Springboks Test

Johnny Sexton is expected to be fit for Saturday's Test against South Africa and will train with the rest of the squad today.

Sexton was taken off at half-time while playing for his club Racing Metro at the weekend but it has emerged that the substitution was prearranged.

"That was always the intention," said Ireland team manager Mick Kearney. "He does have a little bit of tightness in his thigh but it wouldn't be of any concern and we'd expect Jonathan to train [today] and train fully for the week."

Tighthead prop Mike Ross had also been a doubt after missing the last month with a groin injury but Kearney said that he had done some light work on Friday and would resume full training during the week.

"He'll be closely monitored but the prognosis is positive and we'd be reasonably confident that he will be available for selection."

Hooker Rory Best has a slight calf strain. "It's probably a little bit more difficult to say with Rory, but he will do modified work and be monitored closely," said Kearney.

Ireland must face the big-scrummaging Springboks without props Cian Healy, Marty Moore and Nathan White and will be banking on Ross and Best to anchor their front row.

Gordon Darcy, Rob Kearney and Jack McGrath are all expected to be available, as are Stuart Olding and Tommy Bowe, who have come successfully through concussion protocols.

Meanwhile, South Africa will put scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar through his paces in training this week before making a decision on both his availability for Saturday's test with Ireland and the remainder of their northern hemisphere tour.

The Ulster man is working his way back from a medial ligament injury picked up against New Zealand in Wellington in September and will test the knee in training over the next few days.

Springbok doctor Craig Roberts told reporters on Monday that Pienaar would struggle to make the Dublin match, and that if he was a doubt for the match with England at Twickenham a week later, the team would consider calling up a replacement.

"The biggest decision we have to make this week is around Ruan Pienaar," Roberts told reporters.

"We have assessed him and we're relatively happy with where he is, but we are going to have see when he is running on the field in training.

"At this stage it does not look like he will be available for this weekend, but we are hoping to have him ready for England. If he is not going to be ready for that then we may need to look at a replacement for the tour."

With first-choice scrumhalf Fourie du Preez also missing through injury, the Boks will almost certainly start with Francois Hougaard at scrumhalf on Saturday should Pienaar be ruled out, with inexperienced Cobus Reinach on the bench.

South Africa play four tests in their northern hemisphere tour on consecutive Saturdays. After Ireland and England they take on Italy.

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