Ireland captain Paul O’Connell was passed fit on Thursday to lead the team against Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday following his dramatic withdrawal last weekend.
The veteran lock pulled out of last week’s 28 / 6 win at home to Scotland just hours before kick-off with a chest infection.
Sport24
But he been given the all clear for the Lansdowne Road visit of defending champions Wales, beaten 30-22 by the Irish in last season’s corresponding clash.
Dan Tuohy, O’Connell’s stand-in against the Scots, resumes his place on the bench, with the only change to the starting side seeing the fit-again Gordon D’Arcy replace Luke Marshall at inside centre.
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 David Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Paul O’Connell (Captain), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Dan Tuohy, 20 Tommy O’Donnell, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Fergus McFadden.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (Captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Rhys Webb, 23 James Hook, 24 Liam Williams.
I think this is going to be a great game – let’s hope it lives up to my expectations. Go Ireland!
1 @ GoBokkeAndIreland:
Hello GB&I,
Yip, should be good!
Ireland looked good last weekend!
@ grootblousmile:
Hey GBS. Finally able to log on again here at work – only been able to read for months now! Yes – last weekend was good. With England trying a few new combos, blooding new players etc, this could be the big one for Ireland. Although, Eng-Ire is usually a worthwhile spectacle!
3 @ GoBokkeAndIreland:
Well, seeing as you are back… make it count!
@ grootblousmile:
Thanks GBS. I’ll do my best – but don’t have the level of rugby knowledge or history many of you guys here have!
5 @ GoBokkeAndIreland:
No man, we’re all just rugby supporters!
Enjoy it with us!
@ grootblousmile:
Lol – baie van julle het a KLOMP kennis en weet baie goed wat agter die skerms aangaan! But I’ll comment where and when I can.
7 @ GoBokkeAndIreland:
Good man!
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