RBS SIX NATIONS: Ireland v Wales
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 13 March Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC HD channel, Red Button and BBC Sport website; Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio Wales, Radio Ulster MW and Radio Cymru; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
 Geordan Murphy started in Ireland's win over England at Twickenham |
Geordan Murphy retains his place in the Ireland team for Saturday's clash against Wales after Declan Kidney announced an unchanged starting side. Murphy stays at full-back even though Rob Kearney has recovered from the knee injury which forced him to miss the game at Twickenham. Jonathan Sexton again holds off Ronan O'Gara for the fly-half spot. Captain Brian O'Driscoll will earn his 100th Ireland cap in Saturday's match at Croke Park. O'Gara performed impressively after being introduced in the second half at Twickenham but Kidney has elected to keep faith with Sexton at fly-half, with the Munster man staying in reserve. Kearney's inclusion in the replacements means that Ulster's Andrew Trimble drops out of the 22. Lions star Kearney was the man in possession at full-back before sustaining the knee injury during the defeat in Paris.  | 606: DEBATE |
Murphy made his first appearance for Ireland in almost a year at Twickenham but the Leicester man produced a composed display and is rewarded by being given the number 15 jersey again. Murphy's impressive performance for Leicester against London Irish on Saturday may also have helped Kidney to make up his mind. "I thought Geordan went well against England to warrant a second go," said Kidney. "Rob has worked hard to get back but we've decided to go with Geordan." Kidney added that Trimble had been "unlucky" to lose his place in the 22, adding that Ulster prop Tom Court could also consider himself unfortunate not to have been included in the squad. John Hayes endured a few struggles in the scrum against England before being replaced by Tony Buckley but the veteran holds on to his starting role. | I've always approached it like the next game in a green shirt is my last |
O'Driscoll is the 14th player to join the ranks of rugby's centurions, one match after John Hayes became the first Irishman to reach the landmark. The 31-year-old said: "At the start you want to get as many caps as possible, but you never look and hope to attain 100. "I've always approached it like the next game in a green shirt is my last. "With that policy you can't go far wrong. And it's not over yet." O'Driscoll spearheaded Ireland's march to the Grand Slam last year - in the highlight of a 11-year Test career - and he yet again confirmed his position as the heartbeat of the team. The twilight years may now be upon him but O'Driscoll refuses to consider retirement as long as he remains a force to be reckoned with. "I'm really enjoying my rugby," said the Lions centre. "Last year was fantastic - it makes things a lot easier when you win something that you've been trying to win for many years. "That success makes you enjoy things more and you become more selfish. "I do know there is an end line in sight so now it's about trying to attain as much as possible in that time."
Ireland: G Murphy; Bowe, B O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Earls; Sexton, O'Leary; Healy, R Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip. Replacements: Kearney, O'Gara, Buckley, Cullen, Jennings, Cronin, Reddan.
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