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Rugby Union

Ireland unchanged for Scotland

06/03/2007

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has not made any changes to the side to face Scotland this weekend after the 43-13 thumping of England two weeks ago.

There are no fresh injury worries for the Irish as they travel to Murrayfield hoping to keep the pressure on the undefeated French, who lead the Six Nations competition after three of the five matches.

O'Sullivan's men are riding high after beating England in an emotionally-charged match at Croke Park but trail France in the table after a heart-wrenching 20-17 defeat in Dublin earlier in the tournament.

The only change to the entire 22-man squad that will make the trip to Edinburgh is the inclusion of Wasps scrum-half Eoin Reddan. He replaces the injured Isaac Boss who provided cover for first-choice veteran Peter Stringer at number nine.

Despite having the luxury of an unchanged line-up, O'Sullivan is wary of the Scots, who come into the match on the back of a poor performance at home to Italy two weeks ago that resulted in the Azzuri's first away win in their short Six Nations history.

"Their game plan will be to take us on up front and give our pack a good battering," said O'Sullivan.

"Defensively the Scottish lineout is one of the best in the world. On average they poach 30 per cent of opposition ball, which is a pretty good statistic.

"I'm sure they will target our lineout and try to deny us that platform. It will be a very intense game, with no quarter asked or given."

Full Ireland squad to play Scotland:

15 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster)
14 Shane Horgan (Leinster)
13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain)
12 Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster)
11 Denis Hickie (Leinster)
10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster)
9 Peter Stringer (Munster)
1 Marcus Horan (Munster)
2 Rory Best (Ulster)
3 John Hayes (Munster)
4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster)
5 Paul O'Connell (Munster)
6 Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
7 David Wallace (Munster)
8 Denis Leamy (Munster)

Replacements:
Jerry Flannery (Munster), Simon Best (Ulster), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster), Neil Best (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Paddy Wallace (Ulster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster).

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