Ireland Team Vs Scotland (My Selection)
15. Rob Kearney
14. Craig Gilroy
13. Brian O'Driscoll
12. Luke Marshall (Fergus McFadden)
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Ian Madigan
9. Conor Murray
1. David Kilcoyne
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Iain Henderson
5. Donnacha Ryan (O'Callaghan)
6. Séan O'Brien
7. Chris Henry
8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
16. Séan Cronin
17. Tom Court
18. Declan Fitzpatrick
19. Donncha O'Callaghan (Devin Toner)
20. Peter O'Mahony
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Paddy Jackson
23. Keith Earls
Likely Ireland Team Vs Scotland
15. Kearney
14. Gilroy
13. O'Driscoll
12. Earls
11. Fitzgerald
10. O'Gara
9. Murray
1. Kilcoyne
2. Best
3. Ross
4. O'Callaghan
5. Ryan (Henderson)
6. O'Mahony
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip (c)
16. Cronin
17. Court
18. Fitzpatrick
19. Henderson (Toner)
20. Henry
21. Reddan
22. Jackson
23. McFadden
In the front row David Kilcoyne seems to be next in the pecking order to Cian Healy and will almost definitely start next Sunday and I can't see many reasons anyone would disagree with that
Donncha O'Callaghan will most likely come in to cover for McCarthy in the second row but personally, i would like to see Iain Henderson there. It's surely time to move on from the likes of O'Callaghan and look to the future. Henderson is definitely more than capable of mixing it with the big boys in the engine room.
The backline is where there are the most options and therefore the most debate. I have picked my backine based on form but also with an eye to the future. At out-half it seems likely that O'Gara will start but the is not currently anywhere near the second best out-half in Ireland. Yes, he is much more experienced than any of the alternatives but with Sexton out this is the perfect opportunity to give some experience to one of Madigan, Jackson and Keatley, who are all playing better than ROG at the moment. Out of those three Kidney seems to like Jackson the most but there's very little to separate them. On form, I'd have to go with Madigan who has had an excellent season and is rapidly improving.
The England game could well come to be Gordon D'Arcy's last game in the green of Ireland as he's been ruled out for the remainder of the Six Nations. This means that surely it's finally time to look for a long-term replacement at inside centre. Previous selections when one of O'Driscoll or D'Arcy have been injured suggest that Kidney will go with Earls at 12 but in my opinion Earls is in no way a centre. He's a good player on the wing but he doesn't possess the skills or defence to play at centre at international level. Ulster's Luke Marshall is the form inside centre in Ireland at the moment and I think (if fit) it is time to give him a chance to show that he is the man to take the jersey from the ageing D'Arcy.
The wings are one area where Ireland most definitely don't lack depth. Kidney could pick any of Fitzgerald, Earls, McFadden or Trimble. Even Dave Kearney would be an adequate replacement. I would go with Fitzgerald. On current form he just edges Earls. He is one of the best evasive runners that Ireland possess.