Two changes for Ireland
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named Ulster wing Tommy Bowe and Munster lock Mick O'Driscoll in his XV for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Scotland at Croke Park.
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named Ulster wing Tommy Bowe and Munster lock Mick O'Driscoll in his XV for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Scotland at Croke Park.
Bowe has been rewarded for his sparkling form for Ulster and Ireland A, replacing Leicester star Geordan Murphy on the right wing.
It is the 23-year-old's first involvement with Ireland since he started last August's World Cup warm-up match against the same opposition.
Murphy was given a torrid time by opposite number Vincent Clerc in the 26-21 defeat by France and is omitted from the squad altogether.
O'Driscoll, who was on the bench against Italy and France, comes into the side in place of Malcolm O'Kelly who also falls out of favour – and the 22-man squad.
Munster lock Paul O'Connell, who missed the opening two games of the Six Nations because of a long-term back injury sustained during the World Cup, completed his recovery on Magners League duty at the weekend and provides cover on the bench; he will earn his 50th cap if called on to take the field.
There is one injury concern in the squad in relation to Tony Buckley's thumb. The prop injured the thumb playing for Munster at the weekend and while x-rays have not shown any fracture, Buckley will undergo a fitness test at the end of the week. Bryan Young has been called into the squad and will remain with the squad as cover for Buckley should he not be passed fit.
O'Sullivan also revealed that there is a slight doubt over skipper Brian O'Driscoll.
“Brian's calf tightened up in training,” said the coach.
“He should be fine but we'll see later in the week. Luke Fitzgerald is on standby as cover. If a player gets a niggle early in the week then it's always a concern but the match is on Saturday.
“We need a player on standby just in case he doesn't make it, but it's just a precaution. I'm not worried about him. Brian is a power runner and does pick up the odd niggle.”
There has been a growing clamour for Bowe's inclusion and O'Sullivan confirmed he could no longer ignore his claims to selection.
He said: “Tommy is playing really well and has forced his way into the team. He has really been putting his hand up.”
O'Sullivan added: “Paul O'Connell is back and has forced his way into the 22. One of the locks had to drop out because of that and it was a tough call on Malcolm.
“But Mick did well off the bench in Paris and that justifies his place in the team.”
Ireland: 15 Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster), 14 Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 13 Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster, captain), 12 Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), 11 Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), 9 Eoin Reddan (Wasps), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster), 7 David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), 6 Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), 5 Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), 3 John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), 2 Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster), 1 Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster).
Replacements: 16 Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 17 Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), 18 Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), 19 Simon Easterby (Scarlets), 20 Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), 21 Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), 22 Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster).
Date: Saturday, 23 February
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Television match official: Romain Poite (France)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)