Ireland suffer Sexton setback

Johnny Sexton has been ruled out of Ireland's three-Test series against the Springboks due to a shoulder injury.

The flyhalf sustained the injury in the 29th minute of Saturday's Celtic Pro12 final between Leinster and Connacht, but got up and continued to play until the final whistle. He underwent surgery on Tuesday.

Coach Joe Schmidt named Sexton's Leinster teammate Ian Madigan as his replacement.

In other injury-enforced changes to the Ireland squad, Craig Gilroy, Matt Healy and Tiernan O'Halloran have replaced Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney and Rob Kearney.

Ireland are already without Sean O'Brien, Cian Healy, Tommy Bowe and Luke Fitzgerald for their tour of South Africa because of injury. 

Photo: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

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