Winger Luke Fitzgerald and loose-head prop Cian Healy are back in the Ireland team for Saturday’s crucial Six Nations finale against Scotland.
Fitzgerald, 27, has not played for Ireland since the narrow defeat by New Zealand in 2013.
Healy, a late withdrawal from the team for the championship opener in Italy, starts after coming on as a replacement in the last three games.
The Leinster pair replace front rower Jack McGrath and left wing Simon Zebo.
Ireland can win the Six Nations with a victory, although it is in England’s hands as they have a superior points difference and play later on Saturday.
McGrath can count himself unlucky not to be running out at Murrayfield, but 27-year-old Healy looks to have proved he is restored to full match fitness.
Three-horse race |
||
|---|---|---|
| Team | Points difference | Final-day match |
|
England |
+37 |
France (h) |
|
Ireland |
+33 |
Scotland (a) |
|
Wales |
+12 |
Italy (a) |
Winger Fitzgerald has been plagued by injuries for years and has yet to feature under coach Joe Schmidt at international level.
However, he has enjoyed a sustained run of matches for Leinster and is reported to have impressed in the Irish training camp.
Zebo had featured in Schmidt’s starting team for nine matches in a row but appears to have paid the price for a below-par showing in the Millennium Stadium.
“Simon has been showing a few signs of wear and tear and has had a new niggles,” said coach Schmidt at Thursday’s team announcement.
“We wanted someone at 100%.
“Jack has been impressive for us, but it is simply an opportunity for Cian to have some more time with the team.
“If you are forever coming off the bench, you do not get much time with the team.”
Hooker Rory Best will move clear as Ireland’s eighth-most capped player of all time, when winning his 83rd Test bow in Edinburgh.
Paul O’Connell will set a new outright record as Ireland’s oldest captain of all time at 35 years and 152 days, overtaking Mick Galwey’s record that he equalled in the 23-16 defeat in Cardiff.
Ireland go into Saturday’s match hoping to claim back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time.
However, England and Wales are also in contention with the three teams tied on six points each.
The English are top with a better points difference, and they will know exactly what is required as their Twickenham clash with France is the last of Saturday’s three matches.
Last weekend’s defeat by Wales in Cardiff was only Ireland’s third under Schmidt and halted a 10-match winning sequence.
Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, J Payne, R Henshaw, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D Toner, P O’Connell, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, M Moore, I Henderson, J Murphy, E Reddan, I Madigan, F Jones.
