Sexton replaces O'Gara for Ireland's trip to Twickenham

Ronan O'Gara is one of four starters to be dropped by Declan Kidney

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Tuesday, 23, Feb 2010 04:39

By Alistair Potter.

Jonathan Sexton has replaced Ireland stalwart Ronan O'Gara at fly-half for this Saturday's Six Nations game against England in one of four changes from the team soundly beaten in France last time out.

The talented Leinster youngster, 24, comes in for O'Gara after Ireland's unbeaten Six Nations record dating back to 2008 was ended by a disappointing 33-10 defeat in Paris earlier this month.

Highly-rated Sexton has been on the fringes of the first team for some time and Declan Kidney has decided to throw him in for his first Six Nations start at Twickenham, along with three other changes to the starting XV.

With full-back Rob Kearney out injured, veteran Geordan Murphy takes the number 15 jersey while Jerry Flannery's ban for kicking Alexis Palisson at the Stade de France means Rory Best is installed at hooker.

The final change sees Donncha O'Callaghan return to the side for the first time since the victory over South Africa in November's autumn international, joining British and Irish Lions captain Paul O'Connell in the second row.

The match at Twickenham will also be notable for prop John Hayes winning his 100th cap - the first Irish international to achieve the milestone.

On the bench, hooker Sean Cronin could be set to win his first Six Nations cap as back up to Best hooker. Tony Buckley, Shane Jennings and Andrew Trimble all join him among the replacements.

Full Ireland team to face England at Twickenham on February 27th:

15 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain)

12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster)

11 - Keith Earls (Munster)

10 - Jonathan Sexton (Leinster)

9 - Tomas O'Leary (Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Leinster)

2 - Rory Best (Ulster)

3 - John Hayes (Munster)

4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster)

5 - Paul O'Connell (Munster)

6 - Stephen Ferris (Ulster)

7 - David Wallace (Munster)

8 - Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (Connacht)

17 - Tony Buckley (Munster)

18 - Leo Cullen (Leinster)

19 - Shane Jennings (Leinster)

20 - Eoin Reddan (Leinster)

21 - Ronan O'Gara (Munster)

22 - Andrew Trimble (Ulster)