Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray says the arrival of new faces has reinvigorated the group ahead of Saturday’s first Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

The Munster number nine will earn his 48th Irish cap if selected for the clash at Newlands Stadium [4.0pm Irish time] and despite an injury-depleted squad at Joe Schmidt’s disposal, the Limerick native says the injection of new blood has had a positive impact on the group.

With the likes of Johnny Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob and Dave Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien and Simon Zebo all unavailable, expectations have lowered of a first-ever win on South African soil.

Indeed RTÉ analyst Donal Lenihan believes the tour will now be more about squad development for the 2019 World Cup in Japan as in-form Connacht pair Tiernan O’Halloran and Matt Healy, along with Ulster backrower Seán Reidy and Connacht’s South African-born lock lock Quinn Roux, will all hope to make their international bows during the three-Test tour.

Murray told RTÉ Sport that the new group dynamic is a positive one ahead of the daunting challenge against the Springboks.

“A lot of lads are looking to prove themselves, a lot of lads want to get into the 23 and get a chance to play international rugby,” he said.

“That’s a new excitement about the group A lot has been made about players missing, but it’s a very exciting group.”

Aside from the uncapped quartet, it is an inexperienced squad with Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Craig Gilroy, Kieran Marmion, Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding and CJ Stander boasting just 33 caps between them.

“We had new guys stepping in and they had been in camp for a long time and they knew our systems, our structures and the way Joe wants us to play"

Seasoned scrum-half Murray says the players have integrated well and have quickly come to expect the game-plan Schmidt demands for his side.

“We trained fully last week in Ireland and we had a great training week," he said.

“We had new guys stepping in and they had been in camp for a long time and they knew our systems, our structures and the way Joe wants us to play.

“That’s part of the challenge and that brings a bit of excitement.”