Joe Schmidt has flung a couple of curveballs into his 32-man selection for South Africa.
There is no room for Peter O’Mahony, Stuart McCloskey, Ian Madigan or Craig Gilroy in the Irish squad for the three Tests against the Springboks.
Luke Fitzgerald, Luke Marshall and Stuart Olding all make the cut while there are two call-ups that few expected. Simon Zebo is out but that is due to injury.
Connacht lock Quinn Roux and Ulster back-row Sean Reidy could both win their first caps during the June tour. Roux, in fairness, has trained with Ireland already.
The Irish back row has been depleted by the absence of Sean O’Brien, Josh van der Flier and O’Mahony. All three men are either injured or severely short of game time [ie: none]. Jordi Murphy is included in the back row department, as is Rhys Ruddock.
With no Madigan, Johnny Sexton and Paddy Jackson will share the outhalf duties. The most likely fullback deputy to Rob Kearney is Olding, although Payne could step in here.
Ireland play South Africa on June 11, 18 and 25.
IRELAND SQUAD FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Forwards (18)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c)
Sean Cronin (St Marys/Leinster)
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Jack McGrath (St Marys/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Sean Reidy (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Rhys Ruddock (St Marys/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Backs (14)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock/Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St Marys/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
