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6N Preview: Ireland v Scotland

by setanta.com staff , 18 March 2010

Ireland boss Declan Kidney has named an unchanged starting line-up for Saturday's eagerly-anticipated RBS 6 Nations showdown with England at Croke Park.


There is one change on the bench, however, with Munster's Mick O'Driscoll coming into the match 22 at the expense of Leinster lock Malcolm O'Kelly.

There had been speculation that Kidney might opt to recall Leinster centre Gordon D'Arcy, who has impressed as a replacement in the championship thus far and further boosted his match fitness with 80 minutes in his province's Magners League win over Scarlets last weekend.

However, Paddy Wallace retains his berth in the Irish midfield alongside captain Brian O'Driscoll.

Munster's Jerry Flannery has again been preferred to Ulsterman Rory Best at hooker, while Tomas O'Leary retains his berth at scrum-half ahead of Munster team-mate Peter Stringer.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has named an unchanged starting line-up for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations trip to Dublin to take on Triple Crown-seeking Ireland.

Kelly Brown had been a doubt for the final Championship game at Croke Park after being forced off with a suspected concussion in last weekend's draw with England at Murrayfield. However, the blindside flanker has been given the all-clear by medics to take his place in the back row.

Meanwhile, there are three changes on the bench. Scrum-half Mike Blair and prop Alasdair Dickinson both return after missing the England game through concussion, while there is a call-up for Glasgow Warriors' 20-year-old lock Richie Gray following the withdrawal of Nathan Hines, who has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Looking ahead to the game, Robinson said: "I have spoken about the need for us to be consistent and put together back-to-back performances.

"We did some good things against England last weekend but we have to look for improvements against a well-balanced Ireland team who will be looking to bow out on a high from the final match at Croke Park."

Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O'Driscoll (capt), P Wallace, L Fitzgerald; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, T Court, M O'Driscoll, D Leamy, P Stringer, G D'Arcy, G Murphy.

Scotland: H Southwell; S Lamont, N De Luca, G Morrison, M Evans; D Parks, C Cusiter; A Jacobsen, R Ford, E Murray; J Hamilton, A Kellock; K Brown, J Barclay, J Beattie.
Replacements: S Lawson, A Dickinson, R Gray, A MacDonald, M Blair, P Godman, S Danielli.

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