Ireland rugby team to play Wales - Kick off 2:30pm Saturday

Paul O’Connell and Gordon D’Arcy are the only changes to the Ireland rugby team to play Wales at the Aviva on  Saturday Kick Off 2:30pm

D’Arcy replaces Luke Marshall at inside centre.  He will partner Brian O’Driscoll in the Irish midfield for the 53^rd time on Saturday with Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton named as the half-back pairing.

Paul O;Connell who was a late withdrawel will start ahead of his replacement Dan Tuohy.

The back three that provided two of Ireland’s tries against Scotland is retained with Rob Kearney at fullback and Dave Kearney and Andrew Trimble on the wings.

Highlights from today’s press conference can be viewed on IrishRugbyTV.

IRELAND Team Replacements v Wales, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 
RBS 6 Nations Championship, Saturday 8^th February kick-off 14.30 GMT

Player/Club/Province/Caps 

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 50

14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 51

13. Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 129

12. Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 76

11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 3 

10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 39

9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 23

8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 61

7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 10

6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 20

5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 88 capt

4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 11

3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 35

2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 71

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 43

Replacements

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 31

17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 4

18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) 1

19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 8

20. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 3

21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 18

22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 6

23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 22

Match betting from Boylesports.com

February 8^{th      Â} Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Home  Draw   Away^{                                                   Â} 

Ireland V Wales                                              3/4       22/1     6/5

Scotland V England                                         5/1       33/1     1/6

February 9^th                                                    Home  Draw   Away

France V Italy                                                  1/50     66/1     16/1

Handicap Betting

8^th February                            Draw

10/11 Ireland (-2)                   25/1                 10/11 Wales (+2)

10/11 Scotland (+10)              25/1                 10/11 England (-10)

9^th February                            Draw

10/11 France (-20)                  25/1                 10/11 Italy (+20)

Six Nations 2014 – Tournament Outright

France 19/10

Wales 21/20

Ireland 10/3

England 4/1

Scotland 350/1

Italy 500/1

Six Nations 2014 – To Win The Grand Slam

No Winner 4/7

France 9/2

Wales 5/1

Ireland 7/1

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Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/story/203577.html

Ireland rugby team to play Wales - Kick off 2:30pm Saturday