Leo Cullen

New skipper: Leinster lock Leo Cullen will lead Ireland against Scotland

  • Venue: Murrayfield, Date: Saturday 6 August, Kick-off: 1415 BST
  • Coverage: Live on BBC2, BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Ulster and BBC Sport website

LEO CULLEN will captain Ireland in their first World Cup warm-up Test against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

It is the first time the second-row has captained his country and he will lead a side that contains two uncapped players in the match-day 22.

Mike McCarthy starts the game at blindside flanker in his first Test appearance, while Felix Jones has been named amongst the replacements.

Rob Kearney returns to start at full-back in what will be his first game since November having recovered from a knee injury. Fergus McFadden and Paddy Wallace form a new centre partnership with Andrew Trimble and Luke Fitzgerald named on the wings.

Ireland Team to play Scotland, Saturday 6 August, Murrayfield 2.15pm

15 Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

14 Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

13 Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

12 Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Mike McCarthy

First shot: Connacht's Mike McCarthy is making his Test debut at blindside

11 Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

10 Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

9 Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)

2 Sean Cronin (Leinster)

3 Tony Buckley (Sale)

4 Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

5 Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster) Captain

6 Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht)*

7 Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster)

8 Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Replacements

16 Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)

17 Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

18 John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)

19 Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)

20 Kevin McLaughlin (St Mary’s College/Leinster)

21 Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)

22 Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)