Brian O'Driscoll and Sean O'Brien will be forced to sit out Ireland's clash against England in Dublin on Saturday.
Ireland pair to miss England clash
Brian O'Driscoll and Sean O'Brien will be forced to sit out Ireland's clash against England at the Aviv Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
The pair will both miss their side's final World Cup warm-up match after picking up injuries in the 26-22 defeat by France in Dublin last weekend.
O'Driscoll hurt his shoulder during the match and has been omitted as a precautionary measure, while O'Brien injured his knee midway through the second half.
"Brian picked up a knock against France," said coach Declan Kidney, who remained unconcerned with the fitness of both players.
"He's running around outside, but it was prudent to us not to put him into a contact situation on Saturday. He has made good progress, especially over the last 24 hours.
"With the game coming this week and a full tournament coming up, it just wasn't prudent to put him in the mix.
Stingers
"I don't have the actual medical term for the injury. He gets stingers around this area (pointing to his shoulder). Sometimes you just need to rest it up and get them out of the system.
"Sean will be fine, it wasn't prudent to include him this weekend," he continued. "But as you can see he's in training already and he'll work his way back in.
"If he is injured and he is scoring tries at the end of the game we'll take that wouldn't we."
O'Driscoll will be replaced by Keith Earls at outside centre alongside Gordon D'Arcy, while Ronan O'Gara and Eoin Reddan occupy the half-back slots.
Right wing Tommy Bowe is set to make his first appearance of the summer after recovering from a foot problem but Rob Kearney stays out with a groin strain, leaving Geordan Murphy to start at full-back.
"Rob was training fully on Monday and Tuesday, but then he pulled up a little bit sore," said Kidney.
Dogged
"It's just better to ease up on him for a couple of days. He will be fine again after this weekend.
"It's an opportunity to give Geordan a start in another game.
"At this stage it's all about looking at the part of the glass that is full in terms of giving lads game time."
Hooker Jerry Flannery, who has been troubled by a calf strain, is in Kidney's starting XV for the first time this summer following three appearances from the bench.
And David Wallace makes his summer debut after recovering from a hamstring strain, while Stephen Ferris makes a welcome return at blindside.
Ferris has been dogged by a knee problem but came though his final-quarter cameo against France without problem.
Ireland: G Murphy (Leicester); T Bowe (Ospreys), K Earls (Munster) G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); R O'Gara (Munster) E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), J Flannery (Munster) M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster, capt), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: R Best (Ulster), T Court (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), C Murray (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), F McFadden (Leinster).
