Ireland will be without captain Brian O’Driscoll for their final warm-up game against England in Dublin on Saturday as they look to end a run of three straight defeats.
Ireland finished the RBS 6 Nations as the highest ranked Northern Hemisphere team according the IRB official rankings, but have been beaten by Scotland and France twice, including last week’s 26-22 defeat, leaving them needing a win to avoid a whitewash heading into the World Cup.
But they will have to do so without O’Driscoll who suffered a stinger against France and will be replaced by Keith Earls, who moves across from the wing.
Tommy Bowe makes his first appearance of the summer in Earls’ spot while Geordan Murphy replaces the injured Felix Jones whose World Cup dreams were shattered a week ago.
There is also a new half-back partnership with Ronan O’Gara coming in for Jonathan Sexton, who drops to the bench, while Eoin Reddan replaces Tomas O’Leary who missed out on Ireland ’s final 30.
In the back row Stephen Ferris makes his first start since November 2010, replacing the injured Sean O’Brien, and David Wallace returns in place of Shane Jennings.
Finally Jerry Flannery makes his long-awaited return to the starting line-up having not started for Declan Kidney’s men since the second game of the Six Nations against France.
15. Geordan Murphy – Leicester
14. Tommy Bowe – Ospreys
13. Keith Earls – Munster
12. Gordon D’Arcy – Leinster
11. Andrew Trimble – Ulster
10. Ronan O’Gara – Munster
9. Eoin Reddan – Leinster
1. Cian Healy – Leinster
2. Jerry Flannery – Munster
3. Mike Ross – Leinster
4. Donncha O’Callaghan – Munster
5. Paul O’Connell – Munster
6. Stephen Ferris – Ulster
7. David Wallace – Munster
8. Jamie Heaslip – Leinster
Replacements:
16. Rory Best – Ulster
17. Tom Court – Ulster
18. Donncha Ryan – Munster
19. Dennis Leamy – Munster
20. Conor Murray – Munster
21. Jonathan Sexton – Leinster
22. Fergus McFadden – Leinster