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Cape Town - Former Stormers and Western Province eighthman Robbie Diack and hooker Rob Herring have both been included in Ireland's preliminary squad ahead of the Six Nations.
According to Die Burger's website, Diack has been tipped to make his Test debut for Ireland when the Six Nations begins.
The talented 110kg forward is currently playing his sixth season of club rugby in Ireland and became eligible to play for Ireland two years ago.
Serious injuries to loose forwards Sean O'Brien and Stephen Ferris opened the door for the 28-year-old's selection.
Diack impressed Irish coach Joe Schmidt playing alongside fellow South Africans Ruan Pienaar and Johann Muller at Ulster.
24-year-old hooker Herring, also an Ulster player, was included in the team at the expense of fellow South African and former Cheetahs player Richardt Strauss, who underwent a heart operation in December last year.
Other newcomers named in the preliminary Ireland team were New Zealand-born prop Rodney Ah You, loose forwards Robin Copeland and Jordan Murphy and scrumhalf Kieran Marmion.
Ireland host Scotland in Dublin in their opening Six Nations match on February 2.
Squad:
Forwards:
Rodney Ah You*, Stephen Archer, Rory Best, Robin Copeland*, Sean Cronin, Robbie Diack*, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Rob Herring*, David Kilcoyne, Mike McCarthy, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore*, Jordi Murphy*, Paul O'Connell, Tommy O'Donnell, Peter O'Mahony, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Devin Toner, Dan Tuohy, Damian Varley
Backs:
Isaac Boss, Darren Cave, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Felix Jones, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Ian Keatley, Ian Madigan, Kieran Marmion*, Luke Marshall, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble
According to Die Burger's website, Diack has been tipped to make his Test debut for Ireland when the Six Nations begins.
The talented 110kg forward is currently playing his sixth season of club rugby in Ireland and became eligible to play for Ireland two years ago.
Serious injuries to loose forwards Sean O'Brien and Stephen Ferris opened the door for the 28-year-old's selection.
Diack impressed Irish coach Joe Schmidt playing alongside fellow South Africans Ruan Pienaar and Johann Muller at Ulster.
24-year-old hooker Herring, also an Ulster player, was included in the team at the expense of fellow South African and former Cheetahs player Richardt Strauss, who underwent a heart operation in December last year.
Other newcomers named in the preliminary Ireland team were New Zealand-born prop Rodney Ah You, loose forwards Robin Copeland and Jordan Murphy and scrumhalf Kieran Marmion.
Ireland host Scotland in Dublin in their opening Six Nations match on February 2.
Squad:
Forwards:
Rodney Ah You*, Stephen Archer, Rory Best, Robin Copeland*, Sean Cronin, Robbie Diack*, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Rob Herring*, David Kilcoyne, Mike McCarthy, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore*, Jordi Murphy*, Paul O'Connell, Tommy O'Donnell, Peter O'Mahony, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Devin Toner, Dan Tuohy, Damian Varley
Backs:
Isaac Boss, Darren Cave, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Felix Jones, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Ian Keatley, Ian Madigan, Kieran Marmion*, Luke Marshall, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble
