Rugby – team news:Rory Best will captain an Ireland side featuring two injury-enforced changes for Saturday's Six Nations meeting with Scotland. With Paul O'Connell and Conor Murray ruled out, Donnacha Ryan and Eoin Reddan come in at secondrow and scrumhalf respectively.

The only other changes to the matchday 22 named for the 17-17 draw with France in Paris last weekend, see Mike McCarthy and Tomás O’Leary named on the replacements bench.

“Rory and myself have worked together as coach and captain during the tour to Canada and America,” Ireland coach Declan Kidney explained at today’s team announcement, “so it’s not exactly a difficult decision. Of the lads coming in, obviously Donnacha Ryan has been doing a lot of work with us over the last number of weeks and so has Eoin Reddan."

Best, who has led Ireland twice before against Canada and USA in 2009, suffered a rib injury against Les Bleus but has been included in the starting line-up. He had a scan on Monday, which he described today as purely precautionary, and has no concerns whatsoever as to his availability.

He will equal Keith Wood’s record as Ireland’s most capped hooker with 58 on Saturday and although the loss of O’Connell will be keenly felt, the 28-year-old is relishing the task of leading his country.

“It’s a great honour to be asked to captain the side. It’s something you dream of doing,” Best said. “It’s very unfortunate that Paulie’s out, he’ll be a huge loss but I was very honoured when Declan asked me to captain the side.

“We know we’ll have to be on the money against Scotland. They play a lot of good rugby so it will be a massive challenge for our defence.”

Keith Earls (groin) and Donncha O’Callaghan (ankle) picked up knocks against France and will be continue assessed throughout the week, as will and Seán O’Brien who is troubled by skin infection on his foot.

Ireland:R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), K Earls (Munster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); J Sexton (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, capt), M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), D Ryan (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), S O'Brien (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements:S Cronin (Leinster), T Court (Ulster), M McCarthy (Connacht), P O'Mahony (Munster), T O'Leary (Munster), R O'Gara (Munster), F McFadden (Leinster).