LEO CULLEN HAS been named as Ireland’s captain for the upcoming World Cup warm-up clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Leinster second row wears the armband for the first time as he leads a side with one new face – that of Connacht’s Mike McCarthy – with Felix Jones also named for the first time among the replacements.
Rob Kearney has recovered from his knee injury and comes in for the first time since November, while Fergus McFadden and Paddy Wallace team up in the centre for the first time.
Donnacha Ryan will start alongside Cullen, while the front row consists of Tom Court, Tony Buckley and Sean Cronin.
Niall Ronan starts at openside flanker, with Denis Leamy at No.8.
Ireland team to face Scotland (Saturday, 2.15pm): Kearney; Trimble, McFadden, Wallace, Fitzgerald; Sexton, O’Leary; Court, Cronin, Buckley; Ryan, Cullen; McCarthy, Ronan, Leamy.
Replacements: Flannery, Horan, Hayes, M O’Driscoll, McLaughlin, Boss, Jones.
