O'Callaghan in for O'Connell

Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan has replaced the injured Paul O’Connell for this weekend’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Wales at Lansdowne Road.

O’Connell was ruled out of contention yesterday after failing to recover from the shoulder injury he sustained in the 43-31 defeat by France.

Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan has promoted O’Callaghan, a Lions tourist, from the bench – with his Munster team-mate Mick O’Driscoll filling the vacancy among the substitutes on Sunday.

Ulster back Andrew Trimble has been preferred on the left wing to Tommy Bowe, who drops out of the squad altogether – while Marcus Horan is restored at prop.

In total O’Sullivan has made three changes to the starting line-up which faced France. Leinster’s Girvan Dempsey takes Trimble’s place on the bench.

Ireland team to face Wales at Lansdowne Road on Sunday February 26:

G Murphy (Leicester); S Horgan (Leinster), B O’Driscoll (Leinster, captain), G D’Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); R O’Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), M O’Kelly (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster).

Replacements: R Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster), M O’Driscoll (Munster), J O’Connor (Wasps), E Reddan (Wasps), D Humphreys (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster).