Ireland replace Jamie Heaslip with Jordi Murphy for England showdown

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/27/ireland-jamie-heaslip-jordi-muphy-england-six-nations

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Ireland have brought in Jordi Murphy to replace Jamie Heaslip at No8 for the Six Nations match against England in Dublin on Sunday.

The Leinster back-row will attempt to fill the void left by Heaslip, who will miss the rest of the tournament with the back injury inflicted by Pascal Papé’s knee in the 18-11 victory over France on 14 February. The rest of the XI remains unchanged from the one which emerged from a brutal encounter against the French at the Aviva Stadium last time out.

The Barcelona-born Murphy impressed in the tournament-opening 26-3 victory over Italy, when Heaslip missed out through shoulder and knee trouble. Now the 23-year-old rising star of Leinster has his chance to confirm his Test arrival on the occasion of his seventh cap.

Jack McGrath has held off the challenge of the fit-again British and Irish Lion Cian Healy to start the grand slam eliminator. The fast-improving loosehead has proved his Test stability in Healy’s absence and has earned sufficient trust from Joe Schmidt to retain the No1 shirt.

Ireland are gunning for a 10th consecutive victory to equal their all-time win record in Dublin on Sunday and the highly influential Healy will doubtless be deployed off the bench in the final quarter. Healy took a seat on the bench for Ireland’s victory over France, returning to the Test fray following his severe hamstring tear in September.

Schmidt has resisted the temptation to restore the 27-year-old to his starting lineup, especially given a perceived dominance over the England starting tighthead, Dan Cole.

Tommy O’Donnell has recovered from concussion to take a seat on the bench, while the fully fit Eoin Reddan replaces Isaac Boss as the reserve scrum-half.

Ireland and England are the Six Nations’ only remaining unbeaten sides, with Schmidt’s men looking to retain their title and Stuart Lancaster’s side seeking a fifth straight win over the Irish.

England have made two changes for the showdown, with Alex Goode coming in at full-back for Mike Brown, who is still recovering from the after-effects of concussion, and Exeter’s Jack Nowell replacing Jonny May on the left wing.

Ireland team to play England

R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe, J Payne (both Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), S Zebo (Munster); J Sexton (Racing Métro), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross, D Toner (both Leinster), P O’Connell (capt), P O’Mahony (both Munster), S O’Brien, J Murphy (both Leinster).

Replacements S Cronin, C Healy, M Moore (all Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), T O’Donnell (Munster), E Reddan, I Madigan (both Leinster), F Jones (Munster).