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
PatrickH says...
Heaslip doesn't deserve half the stick he's getting!
The amount of unseen work he does is unreal. He might not be as noticeable a no.8 as Picamoles or Spies etc. but that doesn't make him a bad player. Have a look at the last 20 tries Ireland have scored. You'll generally find Heaslip making a nuisance of himself for defenders ensuring the space is their for the finisher.
Posted 14:53 29th January 2013
marko72 says...
@apexpred
I'm actually not worried about these sub props, I think they can do a job.
Posted 14:36 29th January 2013
whatisthis says...
I expect the game plan for ireland to be to bash it up the middle with alot of quality ball carriers in the pack and no 7 on the pitch to protect outside backs who get isolated. keep it tight and they will win. spread it out the field and they will give away penalties for holding on or even worse give turnover ball to the welsh backline which will mean that the irish backline will be back pedalling and will be run over by the big boys of wales.
Posted 14:30 29th January 2013
norm says...
Can see but don't agree with o'gara logic. Time to let go, but tactically speaking how many 6n games are tight games and like him or not if we are ahead no one better to close a game out in a green shirt. That being said it is time to look ahead
Posted 14:22 29th January 2013
damo says...
Would have Henry at 7 and SOB at 8 with captain fantastic watching how an international 6 plays
BOD will be brilliant I predict, and although Heslip will be awful Kidney will get credit of releasing BOD from the captaincy which is idiotic logic!!!
Worst captain ever I predict!!
Posted 14:19 29th January 2013
tellitlikeitis says...
quin_dub , the minor credibility you may have had was completely wiped out when you suggested Jackson should be there instead of O Gara. Seek mental help.
Posted 14:19 29th January 2013
peachlegs says...
Cant believe henry is not starting!ridiculous!he is the form 7 in the uk at the moment! Put obrien 6 which is his natural position! Drop omahoney! Ireland will potentially be up against two fetchers in tipuric and war burton....I bet they are delighted Henry isn't playing! Declan big error sir
Posted 14:17 29th January 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
at what point does the safe option stop being the safe option.
This selection looks like every other Kidney selection with the only changes being enforced.
Is O'Driscoll fit enough? Is D'Arcy good enough? and to echo @Quin_dub - playing O'Gara on the bench merely tells the rest of the world that Ireland are stuffed for up and coming 10s.
Posted 14:12 29th January 2013
bcrugby913 says...
I like this side, but I thought O'Mahony was more of a 6/8 rather than a 7? Definitely would prefer Henry starting at 7 with O'Mahony for cover on the bench, knowing that SO'B can play all three backrow positions. Go Ireland!
Posted 14:11 29th January 2013
deprop says...
No true openside means we'll struggle to get possession. Murray is too slow which means their much quicker backrow will have a field day and Ireland will give away too many penalties. ROG on the bench ? Jayzuz. He should be on the beach.
Posted 14:08 29th January 2013
black47 says...
I'd agree with the sentiments posted here. Henry should have started. 2 ulster players is not a fair representation of where they are at this season. Paddy Jackson should have been on the bench in lieu of O'Gara
Posted 14:07 29th January 2013
BODsGODmisspelt says...
Look on the brightside lads, the love child earls is on the bench. I was sure kidney mean would pick him regardless of form. Hernry should feel hard done by, o Mahony is overrated.
Really need to be bringing the young guns along now. The best rig is goin to get is 20 minutes and even at that he's not going to win or lose a game so why not throw in one of the young pretenders and give them a chance?
Posted 14:06 29th January 2013
99call says...
Pretty much as expected Fitzy is a bit unlucky as i think hes been playing well but thats 2 top young wingers who will score tries.
The most unlucky is Henry I had a feeling he'd pick OBrien at 7 its a bit harsh on a player who has perfomed very well through the Autumn and the Hcup pool stage but thats Kidney will always revert back to type
Posted 14:03 29th January 2013
APV1 says...
Possibly the match of the weekend.
Posted 13:58 29th January 2013
apexpred says...
Those 2 backup props could get mullered, surprised to see McCarthy instead of DOC. Also very exited to the 2 young lads on the wings. C'mon Ireland.
Posted 13:58 29th January 2013
GCP_jones says...
WOW Deccie this is a decent selection with one exception;Chris Henry, delighted to see the back 3, contrary to what the pundits are saying it looks like we're gonna play at pace.
I for one think its great to see a back-line thats going to try to attack space rather than look for contact.
Worried about Fitzpatrick's lack of game time, but there's no way we could have gone with M Bent. Hopefully we can get 60 mins a game from Ross and bring Fitzpatrick on.
Any way on-ward and up-ward, COME ON IRELAND.
Posted 13:57 29th January 2013
12Counties says...
You have O'Mahony and O'Brien the wrong way around there. O'Brien playing 7. All in all, not a bad selection. Would maybe have liked to see Henry squeezed in and I would have liked to have seen Fitzgerald on the right, Gilroy at 14 is a huge call, hope it goes well for him. We're not short of pace out wide anyway, but theres going to be a big (BIG) size difference on the wings if Wales go with Cuthbert and North. Can't believe he dropped Earls! Nobodys safe! For all the stick Rog gets, i'd have no confidence in Paddy Jackson coming on for 20 minutes with the game in the balance. Needs to learn his trade at provincial level for a few more months yet. He'll get a chance to show the new coach what he can do in North America during the summer.....
Posted 13:56 29th January 2013
hermes says...
Outside of perhaps O'Gara this is an excellent selection. There will always be calls to be made here and there but it is hard to argue with selection on form. Declan Fitspatrick and Kilcoyne are the right call. Donnacha is playing to well to be left out altogether. Hope Gilroy gets on well at 14. A lot depends on him. Would prefer to see development at 10 push O'Gara out but hand on heart if Sexton went down after 10 mins i would want ROG there.
Posted 13:55 29th January 2013
quin_dub says...
Would have liked to see SO'B at 6 with Chris Henry at 7..Think that would have been the better option vs. Wales - In those positions both are better than O'Mahony.
Oh - And O'Gara should not be there...Should be Jackson or Madigan - what is achieved by giving him another 10 minute cap??? , the young guys need to be involved in Match day squads now as they'll be the one at the next World Cup..
Posted 13:54 29th January 2013
heathy says...
hmmm....... the fact that D'Arcy, O'Callaghan and O'Gara are still about points to Kidney just not letting go and think forward. Ireland will struggle with their bench as this does not set the world alight especially in the forward replacements. However, they are a passionate lot and the 1st XV is a decent side. Should be enough to beat the Welsh.
Posted 13:52 29th January 2013