Joe Schmidt hasn’t felt the need to make any changes to the starting XV for the big one against England on Saturday and after the way it went against Wales, why would he?
Brian O’Driscoll is deemed to have recovered sufficiently from a bug to take his place in the side in what is likely to be his last ever international at Twickenham and he will have regular partner and the owner of the best beard in world sport, Gordon D’Arcy, by his side.
Elsewhere, there is just two changes from the matchday 23 from the Wales game two weeks ago, with Iain Henderson deputising on the bench for his injured Ulster colleague Dan Tuohy, Jordi Murphy coming in for Tommy O'Donnell and Schmidt resisting the temptation to bring Donnacha Ryan back into the squad despite the Munster man’s return last weekend.
Ireland’s clash with England kicks-off in Twickenham at 4pm on Saturday, but you already knew that, right?
Ireland team to play England: Rob Kearney; Andrew Trimble, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Dave Kearney; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Paul O’Connell (captain); Peter O’Mahony, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Iain Henderson, Jordi Murphy, Isaac Boss, Paddy Jackson, Fergus McFadden.
