Recovered: Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll returns to the Ireland starting line-up for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.
In the backline, Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll will partner each other in the centre for a world record 48th time at international level.
Rob Kearney returns to international rugby and starts at full back to win his 42nd cap with Simon Zebo and Craig Gilroy named on the wings.
Second rows Mike McCarthy and Donnacha Ryan will start a championship game together for the first time, with McCarthy making his first start in the tournament having featured as a replacement last season.
Sean O'Brien returns to the starting team after missing the November internationals in a back row that includes Peter O'Mahony and Jamie Heaslip, who will captain Ireland in the Six Nations Championship for the first time.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Keith Earls.
Date: Saturday, 2 February
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Kick-off: 13:30 GMT
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Pascal Gauzere (France)
Comments
connaughtabu says...
I think it is agreed - the team more or less picked itself - bar Henry at No7.
Whether the side is good enough, has to be seen - the back 3 are a powerful attaching combination and Earls (who seems to be covering FB, wing and centre on the bench) is not short of a bit of gas himself! The half backs can hold their own - my one worry are the centres. Yes, Darcy has had a couple of good games for Leinster but is he still up to test rugby? I worry that O'Driscoll, returning from injury, may not be quite at his best. Look out for the odd missed tackle!
The game will be won and lost upfront - so hopefully dominance can be established by the Irish pack, such that the lack of out-and-out No7 will not be a major issue.
Expect Henry top make an appearance - God help us if ROG does!
Eireann abú
:-))
Posted 17:58 29th January 2013
spike19 says...
With the players available its probably the best side Kidney could field, you can debate about Jackson v O'Gara or O'Callaghan v Henderson but its really experience over youth and I think in this case Kidney has the balance right. Its a shame that Luke Marshall is out as I think he would pushed D'arcy for the 12 spot.
Kidney has freshened things up by bringing the likes of Zebo, Gilroy, Henderson and Kilcoyne into the squad. The older players will feed off there youthful enthusiasm and also be aware that if they don't raise their game Kidney will drop them as his contract is up at the end of the season.
I think we should have wood over Wales this Saturday, theres no doubt they have serious talent behind the scrum but Ireland just look a bit more coherent in terms of the game plan and tactics. Hopefully they'll bring their provincial form to the game and if we're lucky the Welsh players will to!!
Posted 17:44 29th January 2013
NHsaints says...
Wow...this is a really good side actually...my only grouch is O'mahoney starting over Henry who has definitely earned a spot.
Posted 17:40 29th January 2013
Ulsterman1999 says...
Henry should be starting the game at 7. Ireland looked a better team in the Aut partly because they had a good balance to their backrow. Henry certainly wont light up a game like SOB or SF but he will graft and slow down opposition ball. Let him graft and SOB carry.
Posted 17:15 29th January 2013
melkdave says...
Well a team full of the expected really ,the only real shock is Henry not starting.Also have to agree with posters on ROG,he really should be allowed to retire,as he wished to do after the RWC.Its not as if his in form or playing well atm.As to D;Arcy ive also been very critical of him these past few years,and i still think his a liability,myself rather see D.Cave or D.McSharry start or even Jackson /Maddigan at 10 and Sexton at 12 .Going to be potentially the match of the weekend ,and tbh i think its going to be too close to call .If Wales get any parity in the forwards.
Posted 16:59 29th January 2013
feckin_eejit says...
Agree with most comments here - most calls seem OK although would have played Henry over O'Mahony and glad Earls isn't in the XV.
But I can't understand why ROG the turnstile is in the squad - against a physical Welsh back line he offers nothing in either attack or defence. As soon as he receives the ball from the SH he either passes to the centres or kicks it. And while he is very good kicking from hand, the complete absence of any running game means that the Welsh back line can ignore him and squeeze the space out wide for the Irish backs. (And when he does attempt to run, he has the worst dummy in professional rugby!) So I would have Madigan as reserve OH - he can run and pass, and while his kicking is not at O'Gara's standard, it's not awful.
And in defence he is worse - if I were a Welsh player (back or forward) I would love running at ROG, because he is the most unimposing player on the pitch. Hence he always needs to be covered by a backrow (this seemed to be David Wallace's full time role when he was playing). Again, any other reserve OH would be better.
It's no wonder ROG says he wants to play until he's 38 - when you are completely absent from all physical aspects of the game (apart from sly kicks at retreating players), then playing until 38 is well within his grasp.
Posted 16:51 29th January 2013
99call says...
I have been at the forefront of Darcy bashing over the past couple of years but I must admit hes playing well at the minute so Im happy with him being in there, the main reason being we dont have anyone else to play 12 at this time lets look at the options
Paddy Wallace - well passed his sell by
Luke Marshall - will be the future but hes injured
James Downey - even more passed his sell by a cart horse ready for the glue factory
Dave McSharry - another one for the future but not yet
Fitzgerald - maybe but hasnt played there for a while
Darren Cave - can he play 12? dont know
So at the end of the day the best man for the job is Darcy so lets hope he can take his half decent leinster form into the 6N
Theres no point in calling for someones head unless you have credible replacement
Posted 16:06 29th January 2013
dodgyrog says...
good team , shocked he has went with Gilroy and put Earls on the bench(which is the right call) other than scrum half or openside it was a pretty straight forward selection. Just hope we play to our potential and beat the welsh
Posted 16:03 29th January 2013
ronanmeagher says...
I think Kidney has got it spot on here.
You could argue the toss over Henry versus O'Mahony - Henry probably should have shaded it, but I wont lose sleep over it.
Likewise, Murray and Reddan, neither of whom are playing particularly well. Paul Marshall is probably not well enough to push one of the others out of the match-day squad. He'll probably get his chance when someone gets injured.
And I'd agree with some posters who suggest that ROG on the bench is a security measure. For all the improvements in Madigan, Keatley and Jackson this year - I wouldn't be happy with any of them coming on with 10 mins to go if we needed 3 points to win. I wouldn't mind seeing Madigan on the bench for the Scotland and Italy matches, maybe even the French match.
Happy with the prop replacements.
Posted 15:43 29th January 2013
Dougie says...
Lads, instead of getting on Kidney's back, why not just support the team? And don't say "I am supporting the team, just not Kidney", because it all filters through.
Posted 15:40 29th January 2013
DrDeath says...
Obviously I meant court for the bench, not the starting XV!
Posted 15:38 29th January 2013
THESKUTCH says...
Pretty shocked to see O'Brien at 6 but sure he'll run riot anywhere. Dissapointed not to see Fitzy in the squad at least. Silly Deccie
Posted 15:36 29th January 2013
DrDeath says...
Court been destroying all before him lately-bit unlucky Ithink!
Posted 15:26 29th January 2013
Dezz says...
Laying down a marker, I'm going for a Wales win. If we use our strike runners and get an off-loading game going against the Irish midfield, Ireland could be in serious trouble.
Posted 15:26 29th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
I wonder what those "lazy boyo's" are going to come up with? Bet Declan is really pleased with Jim Telfer right now. :D
Posted 15:15 29th January 2013
PatrickH says...
@ whatisthis..
Both Irish wingers are over 6ft and weigh 14.5st. Not exactly small.
Posted 15:07 29th January 2013
carpelone says...
APV1
The match of the week end will be at Twickers and I smell something in the air.
Posted 15:05 29th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Jamesliveinhope: my thoughts too. Ireland's greatest strength I think will become an area to attack. Send in Roberts / North / Cuthbert the big ball carriers down the 12/13 channel hard. BOD will need replacing on 65 mins and Wales can win in the last 15 mins. Ireland must bring their 6 across to cover that channel and track Roberts. Ireland tactic vs Wales... Without Lydiate I think they can big ball carry their way into the 22 with Healey and Heaslip and go wide only after numerous phases as Leinster did to Exeter. If Ireland can hold on in the last 15 its a comfortable win.
Posted 15:04 29th January 2013
blametheref says...
Bar the Sexton/Murray bad-axis, I don't care what team we send out, we will probably shade a win here anyway against a side that are not all they are cracked up to be...What I do really care about is that Declan Kidney is still running this team with his deplorable tactics and game management, as well as choosing the wrong captain, who should be Sexton (the reason he wasn't made captain is because Kidney has already substituted him before the game has begun)...BOD shouldn't have been 'stripped' of the captaincy and this bad decision along with the numerous others Kidney has made, and will make, as long as he runs this team, will have us screaming for his head again by the time Italy beat us in the last throw of the dice away from home...I pity this group of fine and dedicated players when it comes to 'Ireland'!
Posted 15:03 29th January 2013
PatrickH says...
Would like to see P Marshall (I'd start Reddan) & Henderson & Madigan in the match day squad instead of Murray, DOC & ROG.
Posted 15:01 29th January 2013