Jared Payne has been tasked with filling the void left by Rob Kearney at full-back in Ireland's opening Test in South Africa this Saturday.
Kearney was forced out of the summer tour due to a hamstring injury sustained in training, and with Jonny Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald and Dave Kearney also absent, Schmidt has been forced to shuffle the deck.
The versatile Payne has shone for Ulster in the position this year, and takes the No 15 shirt.
Rory Best captains the side and is joined in the front row by Jack McGrath and Mike Ross. Devin Toner and Iain Henderson pack down in the second row with Jordi Murphy named at openside, CJ Stander at blindside flank and Jamie Heaslip at No 8.
Here's your Ireland team for Saturday #shouldertoshoulder #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/prB47lZVNj
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 9, 2016
Conor Murray and Paddy Jackson are the half-backs while Luke Marshall lines out at inside-centre with Robbie Henshaw playing at outside-centre. Payne is named at fullback with Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls on the wings.
Sean Cronin, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Furlong, Ultan Dillane, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion, Ian Madigan and Craig Gilroy make up the bench.
Ireland begin their three-Test tour against the Boks at DHL: Newlands Stadium in Cape Town this Saturday afternoon (4pm), with the second Test in Johannesburg on Saturday 18 June and the final clash of the series in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 25 June.
Ireland (v South Africa): Jared Payne (Ulster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Keith Earls (Munster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster); Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster, captain), Jack McGrath (Leinster)
Replacements: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster)
