D'Arcy out, O'Driscoll back for England match

Gordon D'Arcy has been ruled out for Ireland for this weekend's Six Nations clash with England.

The 25-year-old missed the 40-13 drubbing of Scotland with a hamstring injury but rejoined his team-mates at the start of the week after receiving treatment at a rehabilitation centre in Spala, Poland.

However, the Leinster midfielder suffered a setback during training yesterday and was withdrawn from the session with coach Eddie O’Sullivan confirming he has no chance of facing the World Cup holders in Dublin.

O’Sullivan said: “Gordon is not right yet. He has not been comfortable in training and there was no point taking a risk with him. His recovery will take longer than we thought – there’s nothing sinister in it.”

Shane Horgan continues at inside centre in D’Arcy’s absence and will partner Brian O’Driscoll in midfield after the Ireland skipper continued to train without suffering any adverse reaction to his hamstring problem.

O’Sullivan added: “Gordon looked fine in training yesterday and was fine today. We will take a look at him over the next couple of days but all the indications at the moment suggest he will be fine.”

O’Driscoll is the only change to the team which romped to victory at Murrayfield, with Ulster centre Kevin Maggs moving to the bench and Harlequins’ Gavin Duffy dropping out of the squad altogether.

O’Driscoll will be skipper for the clash but Munster fly-half Ronan O’Gara will lead the team out to mark his 50th Ireland appearance.

Other players reaching landmarks will be Simon Easterby, who will be winning his 40th cap and Anthony Foley who will be winning his 60th cap.

The Ireland team to play England in the RBS Six Nations in Lansdowne Road, Dublin on Sunday, February 27th at 3pm is as follows:

15 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

14 – Girvan Dempsey (Leinster - Terenure College)

13 – Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster -Blackrock College)

12 – Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne)

11 – Denis Hickie (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

10 – Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution)

9 – Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon)

1 – Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones)

2 – Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College)

3 – John Hayes (Munster – Bruff)

4 – Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

5 – Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster)

6 – Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

7 – Johnny O’Connor (Wasps)

8 – Anthony Foley (Munster – Shannon)

Replacements:

16 – Frank Sheahan (Munster – Cork Constitution)

17 – Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon)

18 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution)

19 – Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College)

20 – Guy Easterby (Leinster – Blackrock College)

21 – David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon)

22 – Kevin Maggs (Ulster – Belfast harlequins)

Not considered due to injury: Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster – Lansdowne) {Leg}, Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St. Mary’s College) {Leg}, Neil McMillan (Ulster – Ballymena) {knee}.