“Expect the unexpected” has become the golden rule in dealing with Declan Kidney and yesterday the Irish rugby coach served up a reminder as to why.

For Saturday’s Croke Park Test against South Africa, the World Cup holders, Lions conquerors and Tri-Nations champions, Kidney threw the pundits a body swerve by making six changes to the side which beat Fiji 41-6.

The most significant of the half-dozen sees Leinster maestro, Jonathan Sexton, selected in preference to the vastly experienced Ronan O’Gara. In contrast, Sexton has one cap to his credit, having made his debut last weekend when he scored 16 of Ireland’s 41 points.

In view of an exceptional debut many had hoped Kidney would risk including the rookie. Few genuinely expected him to do it, however, so yesterday’s announcement was greeted by a sharp intake of breath among the normally-cynical media pack assembled in Killiney.

In another of the big calls, Ulster captain Paddy Wallace has been chosen to provide the filling to the tasty all-Leinster sandwich of Sexton and captain, Brian O’Driscoll. Wallace’s inclusion means Gordon D’Arcy drops to the bench.

There are two other changes behind the pack, with Tomas O’Leary restored to scrum-half and Eoin Reddan omitted altogether — replaced by Peter Stringer — and Tommy Bowe dislodging Shane Horgan on the right wing.

Up front there is a change in each of the three rows. Cian Healy gets the nod at loose head, which means no place for the unfortunate Tom Court; Donncha O’Callaghan returns at Leo Cullen’s expense to partner Paul O’Connell in the engine room and David Wallace is back on the open side flank where Denis Leamy played last Saturday evening before being carried off in the second period.

Leamy has staged a remarkable recovery and has been named as a replacement, albeit that this is dependent on him proving his fitness.

It’s an impressive Irish cocktail, spiced up with a huge 10-man dash of 2009 Lions — four in the backs, plus O’Leary who was named to go to South Africa but was forced out after suffering a serious pre-tour injury, and six in the pack, which would been seven had not Flannery been ruled out before the departure.

Explaining his bold decision to include Sexton, Kidney said: “I know we have a world-class out-half in Ronan but we have to find these things out for ourselves.

“I thought Jonathan had a good game last week. Fiji, with due respect, were short of a few so it’s probably difficult to read. So I just need to find out more.

“Last year we gave Jonathan a nod for the ‘A’ team and he answered a lot of questions, so we just need to see him in this situation. I know Ronan is disappointed that he isn’t playing but it just isn’t possible to include everybody.”

Ireland team

Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll (captain), Paddy

Wallace, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O’Leary; Cian Healy, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O’Callaghan,

Paul O’Connell; Stephen Ferris,

David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tony

Buckley, Leo Cullen, Denis Leamy,

Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara,

Gordon D’Arcy.