O'Gara faces off against Jackson

Ronan O’Gara will line up opposite Ruaridh Jackson as Ireland take on Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield today.

British and Irish Lions fly-half O’Gara is making his 106th Test appearance for Ireland as one of three changes to the side beaten 25-22 by France two weeks ago.

O’Gara is preferred to Jonathan Sexton, who drops to the bench, with Eoin Reddan starting at scrum-half and Tommy Bowe back on the wing after recovering from a knee injury.

Ireland are seeking to avenge last year’s loss at Croke Park and have won four times on their previous five visits to Murrayfield, their only defeat coming in the 2007 Rugby World Cup warm-up Test.

Jackson is making his first Test start and his fourth appearance as one of seven changes to the starting XV from the 24-6 loss to Wales as Scotland go in search of a first win of the tournament.

Moray Low, Richie Gray – a late withdrawal against Wales due to illness – and Johnnie Beattie are selected in the pack and Jackson is joined in the backs by scrum-half Mike Blair, centre Sean Lamont and Chris Paterson, who was winning his 102nd cap.

Scotland: Paterson, Walker, De Luca, S. Lamont, Evans, Jackson, Blair, Jacobsen, Ford, Low, Gray, Kellock, Brown, Beattie, Barclay.

Replacements: S. Lawson, Cross, Hines, Vernon, R. Lawson, Parks, Danielli.

Ireland: Fitzgerald, Bowe, B. O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Earls, O’Gara, Reddan, Healy, Best, Ross, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, O’Brien, Heaslip, D. Wallace.

Replacements: Cronin, Court, Cullen, Leamy, Stringer, Sexton, P. Wallace.

Referee: N Owens (WRFU).