DECLAN Kidney has named an unchanged side to face Wales in Croke Park this Saturday with Munster fly-half, Ronan O’Gara consigned to the bench behind Jonny Sexton who retains his place in the starting XV. Ireland Captain Brian O’Driscoll will earn his 100th cap for Ireland when he leads the team out on Saturday. The game against Wales will be his 63rd as Ireland captain. Munster second row ace, Donncha O’Callaghan will also reach a milestone when he earns his 60th cap for Ireland on Saturday.
There is one change to the replacements with fullback Rob Kearney, having recovered from the injury picked up in the game against France, coming in for Andrew Trimble.
Ireland Team
15 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (Capt.)
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
9 – Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
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 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17 – Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
18 – Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
19 – Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
20 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 – Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Wales have made a number of forced changes to their side with Ryan Jones falling foul of injury and Martin Williams taking up the captain’s armband. Gloucester’s Garreth Delve will earn his tenth cap and slots in for the injured Jones. Matthew Rees returns to the starting lineup at hooker with second row lock, Luke Charteris keeping his place over the injured Deiniol Jones.
Wales team
15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,041)
14 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)
13 James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)
10 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 966)
9 Richard REES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,072)
1 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033)
3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)
4 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
5 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
6 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,013)
7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 944)
8 Gareth DELVE (GLOUCESTER RUGBY – Cap No 1,043)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)
17 Rhys GILL (SARACENS)
18 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS – Cap No 964)
19 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,070)
20 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 994)
21 Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,059)
22 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 993)
