Rugby:Sean O'Brien today became the latest Ireland player to be ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations meeting with Scotland after failing to recover from a foot problem. Peter O'Mahony has been handed the number seven jersey while O'Brien's Leinster teammate Shane Jennings will provide cover on the bench.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney has already had to contend with the losses of his captain Paul O’Connell and first choice scrumhalf Conor Murray for the match at the Aviva Stadium. O’Brien’s absence further depletes his resources while Keith Earls and Donncha O’Callaghan are also carrying knocks.
"We knew Sean was carrying this infection in his foot, but unfortunately it has not cleared as quickly as we expected. While it has not healed enough for him to play this Saturday, we expect him to be fine for next weekend. With Sean out, we have decided to bring Peter onto the starting side and Shane Jennings into the squad," said Ireland team manger Mick Kearney.
New captain Rory Best, who will play his 58th Test on Saturday to equal Keith Wood’s record as Ireland’s most capped hooker, also had a scan earlier this week on a bruised rib but eased any concern over his fitness yesterday. “It was more precautionary having the scan and it’s comforting to know there’s nothing sinister there. I trained fully today,” he said.
Ireland’s hopes of resurrecting their title hopes faded with the stalemate in Paris and with two rounds remaining appear to be playing for third place. A frustrating championship marred by injury and ill-fortune would deteriorate further were they to lose to wooden spoon contenders Scotland, who have won two of the last three meetings between the rivals.
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), P O'Mahony (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements:S Cronin (Leinster), T Court (Ulster), M McCarthy (Connacht), S Jennings (Leinster), T O'Leary (Munster), R O'Gara (Munster), F McFadden (Leinster).
