Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named an unchanged line-up for Sunday's Six Nations clash with England in Dublin.
Flanker Peter O'Mahony, who suffered a head knock, and backs Gordon D'Arcy (dead leg) and Keith Earls (shoulder) were all passed fit after suffering injuries during Ireland's tournament-opening 30-22 win over Grand Slam champions Wales in Cardiff last weekend.
Sunday's match is already being billed as a potential title-decider after England defeated Scotland 38-18 at Twickenham in the first round.
"The players have recovered pretty well from the Wales game. We took 48 hours off after the match and have toned down training since," said Kidney.
"Gordon, Peter and Sean all trained fully this morning so we don't envisage there being any changes."
"We're not getting carried away with the performance against Wales," said Heaslip.
"If anyone did they were brought crashing down when they watched the video of the game. We were quite clinical in the first half but we made a lot of mistakes in the second half."
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 (c), 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Mike McCarthy , 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: Sunday, 10 February
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Pascal Gauzere (France)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Comments
quin_dub says...
@Pantreac...
I'd agree with you that the jury is still out on O'Mahony vs Henry and that Court should be on the bench ahead of Kilcoyne..He's the best scrummaging loose head we have.
But Toner!!...No, sorry not in a million years.. He may be a very good lineout option but he's seriously sub-standard elsewhere..Most importantly at scrum time. Just watch a few videos and see his body position - Arched back and pushing on the props arm-pit , just all wrong.. It's not called the engine room for nothing.. With him there , there is no power and what little he does provide all he succeeds in doing is splitting the T/head from the hooker as he starts out way to high
Posted 13:29 09th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
99call: a lot of people have said England beat a poor Scotland. I thought they were good for 80. A lot has been said about Ireland's awesome defence but I saw them flag badly and ship 19 unanswered points in the end. I think England have an 80 minute accurate and fit team. Ireland may have enough in the tank... may... To squeeze another win if they get another high scoring start but I can't see them winning the grand slam or tournament although they might get a triple crown. If England start well and we get a close first half I can't see Ireland lasting vs England. Still think France should be favourites but England might win tournament even with a close loss.
Posted 23:28 08th February 2013
melkdave says...
Still not totally convinced that O;Manjony is better than Henry,or that D/Arcy should be in the squad at all.But it was a very good 1st half against Wales.Dont think Ireland wil have the space ,they did against Wales either but it should be one hell of a match.Both sides look pretty evenly balanced to be honestI feel the match will be one by who gets an edge in the backrow ,and that battle should be epic .
Posted 22:52 08th February 2013
pantreac says...
Why is it that Kidney always takes the easy way out? Unfortunately I thought that O'Mahony did not play well last week and also our line-out was poor apart from Heaslip. We have perhaps the best line out forward in Toner, he is not even a sub!
Whilst Zebo took his try well and his bit of magic was wonderful to see I am not filled with confidence, He can't tackle and his positional play is sadly left wanting. Kilcoyne and O'Gara most definately should not be there either!
Still with a lot of luck we might manage a win and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that England will have an off day.
Posted 17:34 08th February 2013
Norm says...
Spent all week trying to figure out what the 36 was about, penny has just dropped!
Yep as you say 99 call, lets have more of the same. Great offence and and great defence last week. Poor leadership from the skipper however, but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that he learns from it. Against the English pack last year we crumbled and massive Best fan that I am he was left wanting as skipper on the day ( although not sure what anyone could have done in the set piece that day) there is no way we can not have a firm grip of ourselves if we are to turn them this year. Happy to see Fitzpatrick there this year but he is shy of exereince at this level, but he can scrummage.
Heaslip stand up and prove your doubters wrong, BOD will look after the backs and cover for you in a multitude of areas, but the pack need leadership, and you have been appointed, no time for sitting on your hole have your boots cleaned!
C'mon Ireland!
Posted 15:45 08th February 2013
Top_Kat says...
Ireland 19-16
Posted 15:38 08th February 2013
99call says...
Very happy that we're able to get the same side out, lets see how Billy 36 deals with a real international infront of a hostile Irish crowd and with possibly the most experienced, I didnt say best, centre partnership in world rugby at this time rather than infront of the Twickers crowd and a weak scottish backline
Again the first 20 minutes will be crucial, I dont expect England to give us the time and space that the Welsh did at the start of the game but I think our side is better prepared for this after the second half against the welsh rather than england not having to get out of 2nd gear against a poor scottish side last week
Ireland 19 - 12 England
In BOD we trust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 14:04 08th February 2013