Ronan O'Gara will captain Ireland against England in the Six Nations match at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Munster fly-half will stand in for Brian O'Driscoll, who has been ruled out because of a hamstring tear sustained in the 16-12 defeat by Wales. The match will be O'Gara's debut as captain for the national side. Paul O'Connell, the Munster captain, has deputised for O'Driscoll in the past but has been overlooked on this occasion.
Eddie O'Sullivan said O'Connell was not disgruntled at the decision. "The call was made on the basis Paul has been out for a while and has only one game of Six Nations rugby under his belt this season," said the Ireland coach. "I want him to focus on leading the pack and his own display. Paul was happy with the rationale behind the call."
Geordan Murphy has been pencilled in at full-back after nearing rehabilitation from his achilles problem as Ireland go in search of a third successive victory at Twickenham. The injury, sustained on club duty for Leicester, forced Murphy to miss the game against Wales, and he faces a fitness test later this week to confirm his selection. O'Sullivan admitted a doubt hangs over the Leicester full-back. "Geordan trained this morning and there was no reaction but the nature of the problem means that it could flare up," he said.
Murphy's likely return forces Rob Kearney back on to the left wing, with Tommy Bowe switching over to his preferred position on the right. As expected, Shane Horgan of Leinster has been shifted to inside centre in O'Driscoll's absence.
Ulster's Andrew Trimble moves a place down the line to outside centre to accommodate Horgan, with the duo creating Ireland's third new-look midfield of this Six Nations. Twickenham may have been a happy hunting ground for Ireland in recent times but defeat on Saturday would represent their worst performance in the championship since 1999.
Ireland team: G Murphy (Leicester); T Bowe (Ulster), A Trimble (Ulster), S Horgan (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster, captain), E Reddan (Wasps); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: B Jackman (Leinster), T Buckley (Munster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), P Stringer (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster).
