Century up for Ireland's O'Driscoll
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:20
Leading from the front: Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll will lead an unchanged side in Saturday's Six Nations international against Wales here at Croke Park where the talismanic centre will win his 100th cap for his country.
Coach Declan Kidney has put his faith in the same starting XV that did duty against England and rewarded the coach with a 20-16 victory at Twickenham.
During the England game prop John Hayes became the first player to win 100 Ireland caps and will now be joined by his captain in the Irish century club.
The only change to the 22 is on the bench where fit again fullback Rob Kearney replaces Andrew Trimble after recovering from a knee injury sustained in Ireland's 33-10 defeat to France.
While Ireland can no longer achieve a second successive Grand Slam, they do still have a chance to win the Triple Crown and retain their Six Nations title.
Ireland: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Gordon
D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Rob Kearney.
Date: Saturday, March 13
Venue: Croke Park
Kick-off: 14.30 GMT
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Chris White (England), Peter Allan (Scotland)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
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