Ireland v Scotland: Teams

D'Arcy: Passed fit to play

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Ireland have been boosted by the news that Gordon D'Arcy has been cleared to start against Scotland.

The Leinster centre was considered a doubt for Declan Kidney's side as they go for the Triple Crown after suffering heaving bruising above his left knee in the 27-12 victory over Wales last time.

But, following a late check, head coach Kidney confirmed on Friday that D'Arcy has been given the green light to face the Scots.

"Gordon is fit. He trained yesterday and again this morning so he's ready to play," said Kidney.

The defending RBS Six Nations champions will complete their fifth clean sweep of the home unions in seven seasons if they triumph this weekend.

It is their last match at Croke Park - their three-year residency at the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association ends after the game before they relocate to Lansdowne Road, the Aviva Stadium, in the autumn.

Coach Kidney has opted to retain the same line-up for the match, which means winger Keith Earls, flanker David Wallace and loosehead prop Cian Healy have also shaken off knocks, while Geordan Murphy continues at full-back ahead of Rob Kearney.

Passed fit

Scotland hope to upset the odds and end the competition with their first victory - one that would almost certainly spare them the wooden spoon.

While Andy Robinson's side have failed to win any of their four games so far, the 15-15 draw with England last time will give them confidence going into this clash.

Robinson has decided to keep faith with the same side, with flanker Kelly Brown passed fit to start after he had been a doubt following his clash of heads with Ugo Monye, while bumps and bruises to other members of the squad have cleared up sufficiently.

The head coach said: "We expected everybody to be fit, so the planning this week for the last game of the championship has involved giving the guys a lot more time to recover, which they've done.

"It's now about putting in a huge performance against Ireland."

There are three changes to the bench. Co-captain Mike Blair and prop Alastair Dickinson are both fit again so have replaced Rory Lawson and Geoff Cross respectively, while Richie Gray has come in for the injured Nathan Hines.

Although these are not the circumstances in which he would have wanted to be recalled, Gray is determined to make the most of his latest opportunity.

"Obviously, I do feel for Nathan a bit," he said.

"Injuries are part of the game and I wish him all the best in his recovery.

"I certainly am pleased to be back in the fold and I'll take my chance when I get it."

Ireland: 15 G Murphy (Leicester), 14 T Bowe (Ospreys), 13 B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), 12 G D'Arcy (Leinster), 11 K Earls (Munster), 10 J Sexton (Leinster), 9 T O'Leary (Munster), 1 C Healy (Leinster), 2 R Best (Ulster), 3 J Hayes (Munster), 4 D O'Callaghan (Munster), 5 P O'Connell (Munster), 6 S Ferris (Ulster), 7 D Wallace (Munster), 8 J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: 16 S Cronin (Connacht), 17 T Buckley (Munster), 18 L Cullen (Leinster), 19 S Jennings (Leinster), 20 E Reddan (Leinster), 21 R O'Gara (Munster), 22 R Kearney (Leinster).

Scotland: 15 H Southwell (Stade Francais), 14 S Lamont (Scarlets), 13 N De Luca (Edinburgh), 12 G Morrison (Glasgow), 11 M Evans (Glasgow), 10 D Parks (Glasgow), 9 C Cusiter (Glasgow, capt), 1 A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), 2 R Ford (Edinburgh), 3 E Murray (Northampton), 4 J Hamilton (Edinburgh), 5 A Kellock (Glasgow), 6 K Brown (Glasgow), 7 J Barclay (Glasgow), 8 J Beattie (Glasgow).
Replacements: 16 S Lawson (Gloucester), 17 A Dickinson (Gloucester), 18 R Gray (Glasgow), 19 A MacDonald (Edinburgh), 20 M Blair (Edinburgh), 21 P Godman (Edinburgh), 22 S Danielli (Ulster).