Ireland unchanged for Wales clash

Coach Declan Kidney has named an unchanged starting XV as Ireland prepare to take on Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Croke Park on Saturday.

Jonathan Sexton retains his place as fly half, with Ronan O'Gara on the bench if needed.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll will earn his 100th cap for Ireland, his 63rd as Ireland captain, when he leads the team out on Saturday.

There is one change to the replacements with fullback Rob Kearney, having recovered from the injury picked up in the game against France, coming in for Andrew Trimble.

Ireland Team to play Wales:

15 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (Capt.)

12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)

4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)

17 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)

18 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)

19 - Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

22 - Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)