As expected Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy comes in for the injured Rob Kearney while the suspended Jerry Flannery is replaced by Rory Best.

In the second row, Donncha O'Callaghan partners his Munster teammate Paul O’Connell as Leo Cullen drops to the bench.

Sexton was widely tipped to replace O’Gara before the start of the Championship after his cool performances during the autumn internationals but injury intervened.

However Sexton has forced his way back in the No.10 shirt after a storming performance in Leinster’s recent defeat of the Scarlets scoring 22 of his side’s 27 points.

O’Gara drops to the unfamiliar role of bench warmer, where he replaces Ulster’s Paddy Wallace, and is sat alongside the now fit Andrew Trimble.

Ireland team to face England: Murphy, Bowe, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Earls, Sexton, O'Leary, Healy, Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, Wallace, Heaslip

Replacements: Cronin, Buckley, Cullen, Jennings, Reddan, O'Gara, Trimble