Ireland Team Vs Scotland

Ireland are currently suffering one of their worst injury crises in recent times. Over the last week Simon Zebo, Jonny Sexton, Mike McCarthy, Cian Healy and most recently Gordon D'Arcy have been ruled out of Ireland's team to face Scotland on Sunday the 24th. Add that to the long-term injuries of Paul O'Connell, Richardt Strauss, Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris and you have quite an injury list. This brings up some interesting selection debates especially in the backline. The positive side of these injuries is that it may force Declan Kidney's hand in bringing some young blood into the team in a game that Ireland "should" win easily against Scotland. it could potentially be the most exciting Ireland team to take the field in years but I'm not sure that this will materialise given Kidney's infamous conservatism. Here I'm going to assume the role of Ireland selector and pick who I'd like to see line up against Scotland and also who I think Declan Kidney will pick. Changes from the line up against England will be highlighted in bold. Both Luke Marshall and Donnacha Ryan are doubtful for the game against Scotland so I've put their potential replacements in brackets.

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.