O'Gara captain in tale of two outhalves

Six Nations Team News: Eddie O'Sullivan and Brian Ashton have made crucial decisions at outhalf ahead of a game that could shape their futures, with Ireland's Ronan O'Gara gaining the captain's armband for the first time and England's Jonnny Wilkinson being dropped for the first time in his international career.

In the absence of Brian O'Driscoll, O'Sullivan's decision to overlook perennial deputy Paul O'Connell is further proof of O'Gara's growing influence on and off the field.

O'Driscoll was ruled out for at least three weeks yesterday after injuring his hamstring against Wales, but in the past it has been the Munster captain who has assumed the duties from the Leinster centre.

O'Connell only returned to the starting line-up on Saturday, but his influence is such that few would have blinked had he been handed the captain's armband. Instead O'Gara, who has stood in for his provincial captain already this season, got the nod to lead for the first time on the international stage.

In the backline reshuffle Geordan Murphy was named in the starting XV at fullback, but will still undergo a fitness test later in the week. His inclusion means Rob Kearney reverts to the left wing and Tommy Bowe moves to the more familiar right flank.

As expected, Shane Horgan comes in at inside centre as Andrew Trimble wears O'Driscoll's number 13 shirt. Leinster's Luke Fitzgerald is again named on the bench after making an appearance in the dying moments of the 16-12 Wales defeat.

O'Sullivan has resisted change in the pack as he goes in search of a desperately needed win after watching his side get beaten for the second time in the tournament.

The beleaguered coach still remained defiant as he circled the wagons for what could possibly be his final stand. Defeat by England at Twickenham on Saturday would represent Ireland's worst championship performance since 1999.

"Here's a statistic - in the four years between World Cups Ireland are second only to France in terms of the number of Six Nations wins accumulated," offered O'Sullivan in a stirring defence of his record since being appointed boss in 2001.

"In fact France have won only two more Six Nations matches than Ireland between 2004 and 2007. The Six Nations is where we set our stall.

"I don't see the Irish Rugby Football Union's policy of wanting to win every Six Nations match changing. In that context we've picked the best possible team to play England.

"And whatever happens at Twickenham Ireland will still be second only to France in Six Nations wins after five championships. Given those statistics of course it's frustrating to not have more to show for them."

"In the best-case scenario you want to be entering the final weekend of the Six Nations playing for a Grand Slam or title and then a Triple Crown," added the 49-year-old coach. "But when you lose two games those are all but gone. It's still the Six Nations and there's still much to play for.

"There's no question of doing anything other than trying to get a win against England."

England appear to be in even greater turmoil than Ireland after their defeat to Scotland in Murrayfield. Asthon finally lost patience with the indecisive Wilkinson, despite the World Cup winner setting a new points-scoring record in Edinburgh.

Danny Cipriani, who was denied a debut by Ashton after being photographed leaving a nightclub ahead of the Scotland game, has been called up in the only England change.

The previously untouchable Wilkinson admitted after the Scotland game that he had difficulty in his decision making and has been clearly lacking in confidence throughout the tournament.

Calls for Cipriani's inclusion had grown ever louder in recent weeks and Ashton had opted to start the Wasps youngster at fullback against Scotland before denying him an international debut following the nightclub incident.

Wilkinson hasn't been ousted altogether. The 69-times capped outhalf will be on the bench instead of Charlie Hodgson, but the fact that it's Asthon's only change will surprise many who believed more heads could roll after a lifeless display at the weekend. Fit-again flanker James Haskell takes over from Luke Narraway among the replacements.

Wing Lesley Vainikolo was fortunate to escape as Ashton affords some of those misfiring a chance to make amends. Afterall, between their two defeats England did strangle the life out of the Marc Lievremont's youthful French side in Paris.

Ireland: Geordan Murphy, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Shane Horgan, Robert Kearney; Ronan O'Gara (c), Eoin Reddan;  Marcus Horan, Rory Best, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Bernard Jackman, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Simon Easterby, Peter Stringer, Paddy Wallace, Luke Fitzgerald

England: I Balshaw; P Sackey, J Noon, T Flood, L Vainikolo; D Cipriani, R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan, L Mears, P Vickery(c); S Shaw, S Borthwick; T Croft, M Lipman, N Easter.

Replacements: G Chuter, M Stevens, B Kay, J Haskell, P Hodgson, J Wilkinson, M Tait.