Ireland Team To Play Scotland

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has made four changes to the starting team to play Scotland this Saturday in the next round of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Gordon D’Arcy, Peter Stringer, Rory Best and Denis Leamy have all been elevated to the starting line-up after several appearances from the replacements bench during the first three games of the Championship and strong performances in the Magners League for their provinces. 

D’Arcy starts his first game for Ireland in over a year after being named at inside centre in place of Paddy Wallace, who moves to the replacements bench.

Stringer takes up the number 9 jersey after swapping places with Tomas O’Leary who started the games against France, Italy and England.

The other two changes to the Ireland side are in the pack.

In the front row, Best is named at hooker with Jerry Flannery taking Best’s position amongst the replacements.

Leamy, who came on in place of Jamie Heaslip during the England game, is picked to start the game at number 8 with Heaslip providing cover this time around.

The game will also be a landmarkone  for tighthead prop John Hayes.

Hayes will become the most capped Irish player of all time with 93 caps to his name, overhauling fellow squad member Malcolm O’Kelly’s previous record.

IRELAND TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Scotland, 2009 RBS 6 Nations Championship, Murrayfield, Saturday, March 14, kick-off 5.30pm):

15 – Robert Kearney (UCD – Leinster)

14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD – Leinster) (capt)

12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne – Leinster)

11 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College – Leinster)

10 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution – Munster)

9 – Peter Stringer (Shannon – Munster)

1 – Marcus Horan (Shannon – Munster)

2 – Rory Best (Banbridge – Ulster)

3 – John Hayes (Bruff – Munster)

4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution – Munster)

5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster – Munster)

6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon – Ulster)

7 – David Wallace (Garryowen – Munster)

8 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution – Munster)

Replacements:

16 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon – Munster)
17 – Tom Court (Malone – Ulster)
18 – Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution – Munster)
19 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas – Leinster)
20 – Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin – Munster)
21 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena – Ulster)
22 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)