Bowe recalled to Ireland team

Ulster wing Tommy Bowe and Munster second row Mick O'Driscoll are the two changes to the starting XV named by Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan in the Ireland team to play Scotland in the RBS Six Nations Championship in Croke Park this Saturday.

Bowe is named on the right wing in place of Geordan Murphy in a backline that will see Ronan O'Gara win his 80th cap and Mick O'Driscoll comes into the side in place of Malcolm O'Kelly. The other change to the match squad sees Paul O'Connell named as one of the replacements for the game.

There is an injury concern in the squad in relation to Tony Buckley's thumb. Buckley injured the thumb playing for Munster at the weekend and while x-rays have not shown any fracture he will undergo a fitness test at the end of the week. Bryan Young has been called into the squad and will remain with the squad as cover for Buckley should he not be passed fit.

Brian O'Driscoll's calf also tightened up during training this morning, so Luke Fitzgerald, who was originally selected in the A team to play Scotland A, will remain with the senior squad as a precaution.

O'Sullivan revealed there is a slight doubt over O'Driscoll.

O’Sullivan said: “Brian’s calf tightened up in training. He should be fine but we’ll see later in the week. Luke Fitzgerald is on standby as cover. If a player gets a niggle early in the week then it’s always a concern but the match is on Saturday.

“We need a player on standby just in case he doesn’t make it, but it’s just a precaution. I’m not worried about him. Brian is a power runner and does pick up the odd niggle.”

There has been a growing clamour for Bowe’s inclusion and O’Sullivan confirmed he could no longer ignore his claims to selection.

He said: “Tommy is playing really well and has forced his way into the team. He has really been putting his hand up.”

O’Sullivan added: “Paul O’Connell is back and has forced his way into the 22. One of the locks had to drop out because of that and it was a tough call on Malcolm.

“But Mick did well off the bench in Paris and that justifies his place in the team.”

The Ireland team to play Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday, 23rd February 2008 in Croke Park, Dublin at 5pm is as follows:

15 Girvan Dempsey

14 Tommy Bowe

13 Brian O'Driscoll

12 Andrew Trimble

11 Robert Kearney

10 Ronan O'Gara

9 Eoin Reddan

1 Marcus Horan

2 Bernard Jackman

3 John Hayes

4 Donncha O'Callaghan

5 Mick O'Driscoll

6 Denis Leamy

7 David Wallace

8 Jamie Heaslip

Replacements:

16 Rory Best

17 Tony Buckley

18 Paul O'Connell

19 Simon Easterby

20 Peter Stringer

21 Paddy Wallace

22 Shane Horgan

Not considered:

Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) {wrist}

Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) {arm}

Ireland A Team:

The Ireland A Team to play Scotland A in Perth, Scotland on Friday, 22nd February 2008 at 7.30pm:

15 Daniel Riordan

14 Ian Dowling

13 Kieran Lewis

12 Gavin Duffy

11 Gary Brown

10 Niall O'Connor

9 Isaac Boss

1 Cian Healy

2 Frankie Sheahan

3 Declan Fitzpatrick

4 Trevor Hogan

5 Ryan Caldwell

6 Stephen Keogh

7 Niall Ronan

8 Stephen Ferris

Replacements:

16 Adrian Flavin/John Fogarty

17 Mike Ross

18 Donncha Ryan

19 David Pollock

20 Chris Keane

21 Andy Dunne

22 Keith Earls