Earls takes over from O’Driscoll as Irish outside centre

Reuters | 01 February, 2012 17:240 Comments

Wing Keith Earls of Ireland dives past Mike Phillips of Wales to score a try during quarter final one of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup between Ireland v Wales at Wellington Regional Stadium on October 8, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand
Image by: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

Keith Earls was named at outside centre as the replacement for injured Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll on Wednesday for Sunday’s opening Six Nations championship match against Wales at Lansdowne Road.

Earls will partner Gordon D’Arcy with Andrew Trimble coming into the team on the left wing.

Scrumhalf Conor Murray will make his Six Nations debut inside Jonathan Sexton, who is preferred to Ronan O’Gara, while British and Irish Lions skipper Paul O’Connell will lead the side in O’Driscoll’s absence.

Ireland — 15-Rob Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Keith Earls, 12-Gordon D’Arcy, 11-Andrew Trimble, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Connor Murray, 8-Jamie Heaslip, 7-Sean O’Brien, 6-Stephen Ferris, 5-Paul O’Connell (captain), 4-Donncha O’Callaghan, 3-Mike Ross, 2-Rory Best, 1-Cian Healey.

Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Tom Court, 18-Donnacha Ryan, 19-Peter O’Mahoney, 20-Eion Reddan, 21-Ronan O’Gara, 22-Fergus McFadden.

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