O’Driscoll Back But Ireland Wait On Stringer

Irish Coach Eddie O’Sullivan has made one confirmed personnel change and two positional switches to the Ireland team to start against England on Saturday.

Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll returns to the team at outside centre after recovering from his hamstring injury. Leinster wing Shane Horgan moves from inside centre to the right wing in place of Geordan Murphy and Gordon D’Arcy moves back into the No.12 position. 

There is one vacancy in the starting team at scrumhalf as the Irish management will give Peter Stringer further time to recover from his hand injury.

…A Waiting Game For Peter Stringer…

If Stringer does not recover in time, Isaac Boss will again start the game, with Eoin Reddan coming onto the bench. 

The team will be captained by Brian O’Driscoll for the 35th time.

 

Ireland Team

The Ireland team to play England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday, 24th February 2007 in Croke Park at 17.30hrs is as follows:

15 – Girvan Dempsey   Terenure College/Leinster 71
14 – Shane Horgan  Lansdowne/Leinster  52
13 – Brian O’Driscoll Captain Blackrock College/Leinster 71
12 – Gordon D’Arcy   Lansdowne/Leinster  28
11 – Denis Hickie   St.Mary’s College/Leinster 55
10 – Ronan O’Gara   Cork Constitution/Munster 68
9 – A.N. Other

1 – Marcus Horan   Shannon/Munster  44
2 – Rory Best    Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 9
3 – John Hayes    Bruff/Munster   70
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan  Cork Constitution/Munster 32
5 – Paul O’Connell   Young Munster/Munster  41
6 – Simon Easterby   Llanelli    54
7 – David Wallace   Garryowen/Munster  34
8 – Denis Leamy   Cork Constitution/Munster 19

Replacements:
16 – Jerry Flannery   Shannon/Munster  11
17 – Simon Best   Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 13
18 – Mick O’Driscoll   Cork Constitution/Munster 7
19 – Neil Best    Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 8
20 – Isaac Boss    Ballymena/Ulster  6
or    Eoin Reddan  Wasps    1
21 – Paddy Wallace   Ballymena/Ulster  2
22 – Andrew Trimble  Ballymena/Ulster  12