Paul O’Connell has passed a fitness test and will partner Malcolm O’Kelly in the Irish second row against Scotland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
Coach Eddie O'Sullivan had left both second row positions vacant - in an otherwise unchanged team selected on Tuesday - in order to give O'Connell time to prove his well being.
O'Connell missed the win over Wales 10 days ago after straining his AC shoulder joint against France and despite being able to train, the injury was still causing him pain.
The Munster star took no part in scrummaging on Tuesday and was rested early as a precaution. However, after close examination, the Irish medical team today deemed him fit for action.
O’Sullivan had initially rated the player 50-50 to face the rejuvenated Scots and gave him 48 hours to prove his fitness, although O’Connell himself was always more optimistic of playing.
Donncha O’Callaghan, who stepped in against Wales and would have done so again had his Munster colleague been ruled out, drops to the bench while Mick O’Driscoll is out of the squad altogether.
IRELAND: G Murphy (Leicester); S Horgan (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster). Replacements: R Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), J O'Connor (Wasps), E Reddan (Wasps), D Humphreys (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster).
