Starting 10: Paddy Jackson
Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson will start for Ireland in place of the injured Johnny Sexton against Scotland in the Six Nations.
Jackson is preferred to Ireland stalwart Ronan O'Gara, who is named amongst the replacements.
Six other changes see the uncapped Luke Marshall named at inside centre in place of the injured Gordon D'Arcy, whilst Ulster prop Tom Court also starts as a replacement for the suspended Cian Healy.
Keith Earls comes onto the left wing to replace the injured Simon Zebo, whilst Donnacha O'Callaghan starts in the second row alongside Donnacha Ryan.
Leinster lock Devin Toner and Ulster back row Iain Henderson are named on the bench.
More to follow...
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip (c), 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Donnacha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Iain Henderson, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.
Date: Sunday, 24 February
Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Comments
PatrickH says...
I think Courts omission for the last while was Deccies way of punishing him for what happened against England last year. I believe Court deserves to start as he has had two excellent seasons @ losehead for Ulster and should have been pushing Healy based on form anyway.
I prob don't watch enough Ulster matches to judge Jacksons form but I can tell you Madigan & Keatley can't be far behind the young Ulsterman. ROG should have retired after the 2011 WC and whoever from the IRFU talked him out of it did him & Ireland disservice. I only say that because his inclusion in the international setup for the last 2 years means our younger flyhalves are not as developed as they should be and ROG is getting the brunt of it instead of being heralded as one of the greatest 10s we've ever produced.
As for Deccie, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. I think if we compare the matchday squad v England from this year to last year there are a few changes.
Zeebo, Gilroy, McCarthy, Ryan, Kilcoyne, Fitzpatrick are all new faces. That's more than a quarter of the entire squad.
Anywho, Good luck to Jackson & Marshal on Sunday and the other 21 who will put life and limb on the line for what is effectively our entertainment.
Get some perspective.
Posted 19:12 20th February 2013
melkdave says...
Quick someone check,its actually D.Kidney ,and not some alien imposter.?? Have to say some of these selections are totally unexpected,Jackson ,and Marshall,just what hasppened to the conserative,not going to risk anything Kidney of past years??.Not complaining mind you,i think they are the right choices,for the match,and the future.,also Henderson and Toner on the bench,its just geting to muchKidney is obvisouly not himself ,its an alien imposter from ALPHA- OMEGA 9.
Posted 18:57 20th February 2013
BiggyFint says...
@Wexman Great to here there are some supporters out there who can put there provincial alliances aside when it come to the Irish team. Fair play!
The right selection. A few marginal calls court in particular. I don't think Toner has a future in the international game and would have liked to have seen Henderson cover the sub lock with Tommy O Donnell covering the back row. Happy overall though. Hon Ireland!
Posted 17:37 20th February 2013
99call says...
This is the problem any new coach is going to have there are far too many provincial chips on shoulders and no matter what any new coach does in selection there will always be an Ulster, Munster, Leinsterman crying about why isnt their player in the side as hes clearly far better than what ever has been picked
Its just hilarious on here DK is slagged of for not picking form players and then slagged of for not picking the right form players according to what province youre from, the stupidest statement on here is from rockman were he comes out with
"The irish public have been calling for change for years, this is not the change we want."
I think this is exactly the change we want with 2 young players from the league leaders being given their chance through injury, he could have played this so differently and gone for ROG and McFadden but he didnt but are we all happy????? of course we're not
Would you all just catch yourselves on this is the right selection now just stop moaning, all this is showing that we have potential for good competition for places in the future rather than the same old first 15 being trotted out every week
What I really hope is that Jackson and Mareshall have a blinder and then that will realy put kidney in a corner... does he put sexton straight back in or on the bench and it would definitely mean the retirement of ROG as if Jackson plays well he will have to be on the bench if sexton starts
Posted 17:02 20th February 2013
papachinzo says...
pfff.... At least Earls is on the wing and not in the centre !
Posted 16:50 20th February 2013
DrDeath says...
@sirtidychris
In the picture he looks like a young version of that other famous Irishman-Wayne Rooney!!
Posted 16:20 20th February 2013
Kid_Diablo says...
At this point it just feels like kidney is trying to be a crowd pleaser to keep his job, i doubt this is the selection he really wanted to make. Too little too late. It's a good selection deccie.......... but we still want you gone.
Posted 15:57 20th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
I like his river dance moves.
Seriously though, this is a chance to re-invigourate the Irish team and their supporters. Its a good scalp if they can win. I'm kinda leaning towards Scotland at the moment, but I'm pretty neutral.
Posted 15:54 20th February 2013
munster30 says...
I reckon Kidney is worried for his job and is trying to silence his critics with this uncharacteristic team selection. For all our sakes I hope it doesnt save his job and he is given the boot at the end of the six nations. The irish team has at best stagnated and at worst gone backwards under his management. The that won the grand slam was Eddie O Sullivans, playing with his set pieces and back moves (something for which O Sullivan is never given credit for!!!) The sooner Kidney is given the boot the better. My only fear is that when he is sacked he will find his way back in charge or Munster! Rugby has moved on in the last 5 years, Declan Kidney has not.
Posted 15:45 20th February 2013
Warrior7 says...
Ah, damn, I was hoping Ireland would play the revolving door at 12.
Posted 15:33 20th February 2013
highschool says...
If Paddy Jackson is taking over as the Irish no.10 why wasn't he on the sub bench instead of ROG long ago??? No probs with Earls on the wing as he is not a centre. O'Callaghan back in the team, Mr Barnes get your yellow cards ready and practice blowing your whistle for stupid penalties. Heres a thought Heaslip try catching the ball and not falling on the wrong side of a tackle we can't afford anymore penalties.
Posted 15:31 20th February 2013
Frooschman says...
@ 12Counties - Briliant!
Posted 15:24 20th February 2013
Haldir says...
This is weird. Why is Kidney making a good decision all of a sudden?!?!
Posted 15:09 20th February 2013
connaughtabu says...
Ah come on, will you, lads! For years you have been urging Deccie (or is it Deco, Leinster_goy?) to go for youth and when he does ye complain! Will ye ever cop on! This is a nothing game (championship and triple crown are gone) and he might as well blood new players.
It makes sense to have Jackson and Marshall together as they play at 10 and 12 regularly for Ulster. I wish them every success.
My worry is Court at loosehead prop. He goes fine for Ulster, but I'm not so sure about for Ireland. Hope I'm wrong!
:-))
Posted 14:52 20th February 2013
Theshaw says...
Why would you pick tom court to start as past two games he wasn't even in the squad???? Clearly kilcoyne should start as he was on the bench? Does he not trust him to start but if Healy was I I injured 5 mins in he trusted him to come on?? Makes no sense!!! And maddigan is wayyyy batter than Jackson?
Do people think that Jackson is better?
Posted 14:44 20th February 2013
wexman says...
Christ I hate being an Irish fan with all this provincial bullsh*t and so called fans who were never around until Munster and Leinster started winning the H Cup. I'm not Kidney's biggest fan either but this isn't soccer so get behind the team instead of whining about marginal calls that could have gone either way.
Also I am not a spiteful provincial supporter who just wants my province to fill the Irish team, I am a Leinster supporter who thinks that Jackson & Marshall are the correct calls
Posted 14:44 20th February 2013
howrtings says...
I Can't believe Tom Court is picked ahead of Kilcoyne.
Great to see Jackson and Marshal in, and I would have to disagree with Rockman, that the whole nation were not calling for madigan to be starting. There does appear to be a blue haze over your posts!! Jackson is well worth a go.
@ 3 in 4: Earl's is not a centre, but is an international standard winger, and one of the players who actually performed well against England. Fitzy is in good form, but would need more time to force his way into the starting line up IMO. I'm surprised he was selected ahead of McFadden and Trimble to be honest.
Overall - it looks like a good team, but I would worry about the Scrum....thankfully Murray will be in church on Sunday...
Posted 14:42 20th February 2013
black47 says...
Farewell Sir Rog the Good....
Posted 14:32 20th February 2013
99call says...
rockman
Last time I looked the irish public consisted of more than just you, yes we all wanted ROG to be put out to pasture but not everyone wanted Madigan ahead of Jackson and most of us think that Marshall deserves his place and the one thing I am sure of is that youre the only one who wanted McFadden in the centres
You cant blame DK for picking a 10 whos actually first choice at the league leaders and in the HCup quarters ahead of a kid who is only the backup 10 at his province, Im not denying Madigans talent but this is Jacksons chance, Madigans will come especially when he can become first choice 10 at Leinster next year, so stop whinging this is a massive selction policy shift for DK, still dont think it will save his job
Posted 14:22 20th February 2013
dodgyrog says...
WOW bit of a shock?, Paddy's a good attacking player and would probably have been back up to J.Sexton from next year. However his place kicking can be a bit dodgy. It is the changing of the old guard. ROG and D'arcy wont be seen after this season in irish colours.
Posted 14:17 20th February 2013