Ireland Team to Play England



Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named Ronan O'Gara as captain of the Ireland team to play England in the RBS Six Nations Championship this weekend. This will be the Munster outhalf's first time to captain the side that sees one personnel change from the team that played Wales last weekend.



Geordan Murphy returns to the fullback position, but will undergo a fitness test later this week to confirm his selection in the team. With Brian O'Driscoll unavailable due to his hamstring injury and Murphy returning to the side, there has been a reshuffle along the three quarter line.



Rob Kearney has reverted from fullback to the left wing and Tommy Bowe switches flanks to the right side. Shane Horgan moves to inside centre and Andrew Trimble moves to the No.13 jersey to form a new centre partnership.



The Ireland team to play England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday, 15th March 2008 in Twickenham, London at 15.00hrs is as follows:



Player Club Caps

15 - Geordan Murphy* Leicester 55

14 - Tommy Bowe Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 12

13 - Andrew Trimble Ballymena/Ulster 23

12 - Shane Horgan Boyne/Leinster 60

11 - Robert Kearney UCD/Leinster 5

10 - Ronan O'Gara Captain Cork Constitution/Munster 81

9 - Eoin Reddan Wasps 9

1 - Marcus Horan Shannon/Munster 55

2 - Rory Best Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 21

3 - John Hayes Bruff/Munster 83

4 - Donncha O'Callaghan Cork Constitution/Munster 44

5 - Paul O'Connell Young Munster/Munster 50

6 - Denis Leamy Cork Constitution/Munster 30

7 - David Wallace Garryowen/Munster 44

8 - Jamie Heaslip Clontarf/Leinster 7



Replacements:

16 - Bernard Jackman Clontarf/Leinster 8

17 - Tony Buckley Shannon/Munster 6

18 - Mick O'Driscoll Cork Constitution/Munster 14

19 - Simon Easterby Llanelli 64

20 - Peter Stringer Shannon/Munster 81

21 - Paddy Wallace Ballymena/Ulster 7

22 - Luke Fitzgerald Blackrock College/Leinster 3



Not considered due to injury:

Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) {Arm}

Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster) {Hip}

Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) {Hamstring}

Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) {Hamstring}



For further information contact:

Karl Richardson

IRFU Communications & Media Manager

Tel: +353 (0) 866477874 / Email: karl.richardson@irfu.ie <mailto:karl.richardson@irfu.ie>

Tuesday, 11 March 2008