Ireland bid to set-up showdown against England

A possible RBS Six Nations Championship decider against England in eight days was in the eyes of the Irish at Lansdowne Road before the famous old stadium was due to be demolished as part of reconstruction plans.

Eddie O’Sullivan’s side were favourites to topple Scotland but Frank Hadden’s much-improved team had already stunned England at Murrayfield last Saturday.

But despite that Calcutta Cup triumph, the Scotland coach made two changes by installing Nathan Hines and Scott Murray in the second row at the expense of Scott MacLeod and Alastair Kellock.

On the penultimate weekend of the season, the visitors were locked on the same points as Ireland, England and France at the top of the table but they had failed to beat the Irish on their own patch since February 1998.

Ireland started with Paul O’Connell in the second row as he passed a fitness test on Thursday after picking up a shoulder injury.

Munster lock Mick O’Driscoll was drafted onto the bench after Wasps flanker Johnny O’Connor was ruled out through injury.

Ireland v Scotland teams

Ireland: Murphy, Horgan, B. O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Trimble, O’Gara, Stringer, Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O’Kelly, O’Connell, Easterby, Wallace, Leamy.

Replacements: R. Best, S. Best, O’Callaghan, M. O’Driscoll, Reddan, Humphreys, Dempsey.

Scotland: Southwell, Paterson, Di Rollo, Henderson, Lamont, Parks, Blair, Kerr, Hall, Douglas, Hines, Murray, White, Hogg, Taylor.

Replacements: Lawson, Smith, Kellock, Petrie, Cusiter, Ross, Webster.

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)