Declan Kidney sticks to his plans as Peter O’Mahony makes way for Seán O’Brien in the only change to the Ireland team for the final RV+BS Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Munster man made his first start against Scotland last weekend and impressed at openside flanker, but O’Brien’s recovery from a skin infection in his foot means he has been brought back into the position he filled for the first three games of the campaign. Shane Jennigs drops out the squad to accomodate the change.
“Absolutely, it’s a tough call on Peter,” admitted Kidney this afternoon. “I thought he played really well (against Scotland). He coped with the pressure of starting, which is a little but different to coming on as a replacement.
“I’ve always said, there’s no problem with who to pick, it’s who not to pick. Peter, along with several others, who have been training extraordinarily well with us over the last few weeks are unfortunate enough to lose out, but that’s a compliment to the lads who have been playing. They’ve been doing well.”
The opposition, said Kidney, have “been improving every match”.
He added: “They were unlucky to lose to Wales with a last minute score and all you have to do us look at the rankings, they are the fourth best team in the world right now.
“We have a cup final on Saturday against England. That’s the way we see each game, it’s a one-off game.”
Keith Earls and Cian Healy will both win their 30th caps at outside centre and loosehead prop respectively, while hooker Rory Best will once again captain the side in the continued absences of Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll.
Best, in fact, will become Ireland's most capped hooker ahead of Keith Wood, whose record of 58 he equalled last weekend.
England's interim coach Stuart Lancaster will name his side on Thursday.Ireland (v England):
R Kearney; T Bowe, K Earls, G D’Arcy, A Trimble; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Best (capt), M Ross; D O’Callaghan, D Ryan; S Ferris, S O’Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: S Cronin, T Court, M McCarthy, P O’Mahony, T O’Leary, R O’Gara, F McFadden
