O'Sullivan goes with 'form' in team selection

On the day when permanent TSB announced a new three-year €5m sponsorship package for the Irish rugby team, the new deal is one of the largest sponsorship packages in Irish sport, Eddie O'Sullivan kept faith with David Humphreys in the race for outhalf.

O'Sullivan said: "Outhalf is always a difficult call. Against Wales there was Ronan's heroics but David also did very well.

"It was a form selection as it always is."

Girvan Demspey returns to the replacement's bench. "Girvan is back to full fitness and is excellent cover for us to have," O'Sullivan said.

On the Leo Cullen and John Kelly ommissions, O'Sullivan said: "Leaving out Leo was a very hard call. We feel Paul O'Connell can be a good impact sub for us as Leo also was.

"Leo is naturally upset and disappointed but there is an honesty in all of the selections."

On the game O'Sullivan said: "I am very happy to be here. England are the best side in the world without a shadow of a doubt. We have to play to our potential,

"We want to give the performance of our lives, it is a chess game and we have to plot and scheme our tactics accordingly."

IRELAND XV: Murphy; Bishop, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie; Humphreys, Stringer; Horan, Byrne, Hayes; Longwell, O'Kelly; Costello, Gleeson, Foley.

Reserves: Sheahan, Fitzpatrick, O'Connell, Quinlan; G Easterby, O'Gara, Dempsey.