On the ditch

Paul O’Connell and Rory Best return to the starting line-up for this weekend’s clash with Wales. And with injuries to both full-backs, Dempsey and Murphy, it looks like a start at full-back for Rob Kearney with Shane Horgan back on the wing.

Preview from UnLaoised

IRELAND TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Wales, 2008 RBS 6 Nations, Croke Park, Saturday, March 8, kick-off 1.15pm local time):
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 14 - Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) 13 - Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt) 12 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 11 - Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 10 - Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster) 9 - Eoin Reddan (London Wasps) 1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster) 2 - Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster) 4 - Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 5 - Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 6 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster) 7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster) 8 - Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Replacements
16 - Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster) 17 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster) 18 - Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19 - Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets) 20 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster) 21 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster) 22 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Tags: 6nations08, Ireland V Wales, Paul O'Connell, Rob Kearney, Rory Best, Shane Horgan, Six Nations, team news