Sean O’Brien named in Ireland team for St. Patrick’s Day Twickenham test against England

Leinster flanker the only change to starting side

Sean O’Brien is back in the Ireland team for Saturday’s big Six Nations clash away to England at Twickenham.

The Leinster flanker has recovered from a foot infection and comes straight back in after missing last weekend’s win over Scotland.

Munster’s Peter O’Mahony drops back down to the bench after making an impressive first start against the Scots.

O’Brien is the only change to the team after Rory Best and Donnacha Ryan also shook off slight injuries.

“Sean trained well this morning and we wouldn’t have selected him if he wasn’t ready,” said Ireland coach Declan Kidney as he announced the team on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s tough on Peter because he played really well against Scotland.”

Captain Best will become Ireland’s most capped hooker when he wins his 59th cap against England, eclipsing Keith Wood’s milestone of 58.

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).
 

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Nster.com