SIX NATIONS:Gordon D'Arcy did enough against Scotland to retain his place in the Ireland starting line-up for the crucial Six Nations title decider against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. Coach Declan Kidney has made three changes from the side that won against Scotland, however, with Tomás O'Leary preferred to Peter Stringer at scrumhalf.
Aside from D’Arcy retaining the number 12 jersey to partner his Leinster team mate and Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll at centre, Kidney has reverted to the line-up that began the wins over France, Italy and England.
It means Jamie Heaslip, one of the players of the tournament and try-scorer once more in Edinburgh, returns at number eight, shunting Denis Leamy back to the bench. Heaslip replaced Leamy in the 22-15 win at Murrayfield.
The tight decision at hooker goes the way of Jerry Flannery instead of Rory Best, signalling, perhaps, Kidney’s anticipation of a more open encounter than what was on show in Edinburgh.
O’Leary’s return will be blow to Stringer, who produced a man-of-the-match display last weekend, culminating in swift break off a lineout that led to Heaslip’s crucial try.
This was viewed as Kidney’s toughest call but, having featured prominently off the bench in every game prior to Scotland, Stringer’s tournament is unlikely to be over.
“The difference between the players is so small,” said the coach today. “The changes were partly for tactical reasons. It’s about getting the right chemistry.”
He added: “The players have fronted up so well. The gaps are so small I wouldn’t try to justify it.
“You’ve got to try to go with the chemistry and look at the game ahead of you. What happened was what I knew would happen when I changed the squad.
“Four came in and did very well and that has made selection very difficult. The squad has become stronger but that makes selection harder.
“It’s not horses for courses. That can be a bracket. Our aim is to be as good as we can be on any given day.”
The players’ workload will be measured carefully this week but Kidney insists they are still champing at the bit to claim the nation’s first clean sweep since 1948.
“We’ve gone to the well a few times with these lads but they’re still good and thirsty,” he said. “We’ll head for Cardiff on Thursday and weigh up how much time we need to spend on the pitch and how much time we need to rest up bodies.
“It seems as though every game we have played in so far has been harder than the last and we’ve had to play a little bit better each time.”
Wales coach Warren Gatland had much more surgery to perform than his counterpart after his weakened side so nearly succumbed to Italy in Rome.
Predictably prop Gethin Jenkins, lock Ian Gough and flanker Martyn Williams, return but a surprise is the absence of centre Jamie Roberts. His place will be taken by veteran Tom Shanklin, who is reunited with his 2005 and 2008 Grand Slam midfield colleague Gavin Henson.
Shanklin scored Wales’ winning try eight minutes from time at Stadio Flaminio.
Roberts drops to the bench, as does James Hook, who is replaced at outhalf by the more sure-footed Stephen Jones.
Most of Gatland’s attention though has been devoted to the pack, where only lock Alun-Wyn Jones and number eight Andy Powell remain from Rome.
He recalls an established frontrow of Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Adam Jones, with Gough replacing Luke Charteris, Williams taking over from Dafydd Jones and Ryan Jones in for Jonathan Thomas.
The latter, last season’s Grand Slam skipper, reclaims the captaincy duties from Alun-Wyn Jones, who led Wales for the first time in their 20-15 victory over Italy.
Six Rome starters are on the bench, Roberts, Hook, Charteris, Dafydd Jones, hooker Huw Bennett and prop John Yapp.
London Irish scrumhalf Warren Fury, meanwhile, will once again provide cover for Mike Phillips, with Gareth Cooper and Martin Roberts both injured.
A win for Wales would see them land the Triple Crown and deny Ireland a first Grand Slam (second in total) since 1948. But a successful title defence hinges on them winning by 13 points or more, something they have not achieved against Ireland for 26 years.
Gatland said: “I don’t mind admitting we have left ourselves with a lot to do to win the championship.
“But, on the other hand, the 13-point deficit is by no means insurmountable.
“There is also a Triple Crown at stake and we know only too well in Wales that Grand Slams don’t come cheaply.
“We’ve won two Grand Slams in the last decade and so all the pressure will be on Ireland to grab only the second in their history.
“With a healthy head start you have to say Ireland are probably favourites to take the title, but we are confident we can come up with a win.
“And who knows what will happen if we can get ourselves ahead in the game and that Millennium Stadium factor begins to kick in.”
Ireland team :R Kearney, T Bowe, B O'Driscoll (C), G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald, R O'Gara, T O'Leary, M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip. Replacements: R Best, T Court, M O'Driscoll, D Leamy, P Stringer, P Wallace, G Murphy
Wales team: L Byrne; M Jones, T Shanklin, G Henson, S Williams; S Jones, M Phillips; G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones, I Gough, A-W Jones, R Jones (C), M Williams, A Powell. Replacements: H Bennett, J Yapp L Charteris, D Jones, W Fury, J Hook, J Roberts
