Jonathan Sexton to start for Ireland vs. England

By: Declan O'Kelly | Published Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 10:25 AM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 9:31 PM

Jonathan Sexton has been handed a starting berth by coach Declan Kidney in the Irish team that takes on England at Twickenham this Saturday.

Sexton will replace Munster out half Ronan O’Gara, who drops to the bench, while Geordan Murphy comes in for the injured Rob Kearney at full back

Donncha O'Callaghan takes over from Leo Cullen, while Rory Best takes up the spot vacated by the suspension of Jerry Flannery.

The full team for the Six Nations match against England is:


1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster),2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster),3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster),4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster),5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster),6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)7 -David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster),8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

15 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers), 14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys),13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt,)12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster,)11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster),10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster,)9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

Subs:

6 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht),17 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), 18 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster),19 - Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster),20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster),21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster),22 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)