John Hayes to play 100th Test for Ireland v England
Geordan Murphy
Geordan Murphy returns to the Ireland team at full back after missing the November internationals due to injury. He lined out for Leicester last weekend and comes into the side for the injured Rob Kearney. Jonathan Sexton will start the game at outhalf.
In the forwards, prop John Hayes will win his 100th cap for Ireland as part of a front row that sees Rory Best come into the team in place of Jerry Flannery. Hayes is the first Irish player to reach 100 test caps for his country and he joins an illustrious list of players worldwide who have attained such a milestone.
The final change to the starting team is Donncha O’Callaghan, who returns to the side for the first time since the game against South Africa in November to play in the second row alongside Paul O’Connell.
Sean Cronin joins the match 22 for the first time in an RBS 6 Nations Championship game in the replacments as back up hooker. Tony Buckley, Shane Jennings and Andrew Trimble all come in to the replacements.
IRELAND Team & Replacements (v England, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Twickenham, Saturday, February 27, kick-off 4.00pm):
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 (from):
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 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
[Info from Irishrugby.ie]
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