Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named an unchanged starting team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with England at Twickenham (kick-off 4pm). Paul O’Connell will lead the side on the occasion of his 90th cap as Ireland seek their first win at Twickenham since 2010.
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Chris Henry, a try scorer against Wales, retains the number 7 jersey and is joined in the back row by Peter O’Mahony and Jamie Heaslip. Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton continue as the half-back pairing with Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy lining out in midfield.
O’Driscoll’s 63rd Championship appearance will see him go level on the Six Nations all-time list with Ronan O’Gara, while his 139th international outing (8 caps with the Lions) equals George Gregan’s record as the most-capped player in Test rugby history.
There will also be a caps milestone for hooker Rory Best as he overtakes David Humphreys as Ulster’s most-capped Ireland international (73 caps).
There are two changes on the replacements bench with Iain Henderson in for the injured Dan Tuohy and the uncapped Jordi Murphy providing back row cover.
IRELAND Team:
Player/Club/Province/Caps –
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 51
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 52
13. Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 130
12. Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 76
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 4
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 40
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 24
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 44
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 72
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 36
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 12
5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 89 (capt)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 21
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 11
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 62
Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 32
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 5
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) 2
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 7
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 19
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 7
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 23
* Denotes uncapped player
Very good settled starting line up for Ireland, Peter O’Mahony is a super player and if he carries on the way he has started and has been playing this season for Munster must surely be in line for player of the tournament.
Not so sure about Ireland replacements, especially among the forwards where very little experience aside from Sean Cronin, could this be where the game is decided…
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