Murphy replaces injured Dempsey

Geordan Murphy, cast adrift after Ireland's defeat in Paris, comes back into the side for tomorrow's match against Scotland after Girvan Dempsey failed a fitness test this morning.

Murphy, who had returned to England in advance of a league match with Leicester this weekend, will now start in his favoured position of full-back following the hip injury Dempsey suffered in training yesterday.

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll, a slight concern due to a calf strain also sustained in training, was put through his paces today and passed fit to lead out the side at Croke Park.

Eddie O'Sullivan remains confident Dempsey will be back for Wales's trip to Dublin in a fortnight.

"Girvan didn't make it because of the bruising on his hip," explained the coach ."He's out, so Geordan takes his place. We hope he'll be ready to face Wales in two weeks time, because he's a good healer and he's always recovered quickly from these type of injuries."

Murphy carried the can for Ireland's narrow defeat by the French, some soft tackling and an ill-judged kick at the death leading many to question his sell-by date at international level.

But still only 29, Murphy clearly believes he has plenty left to offer and his captain today urged his enigmatic team-mate to seize his opportunity this weekend.

"It's rare that Geordan is in bad form. I find it exciting being on the same training pitch as him. He can do some phenomenal things," he said. "More often than not he's the most skilful player on the pitch. That creates great excitement and anticipation.

"It's a great opportunity for him to play at full-back because I know he prefers that position to the wing."

Dempsey may be lamenting his poor fortune but fate smiled on O'Driscoll, who was given good news on his tight calf this morning. Having picked up the niggle during training on Tuesday, O'Driscoll has made a complete recovery.

"There was always an element of concern but I felt great this morning," said O'Driscoll. "You get these knocks throughout your career and sometimes you know when it's going to be a problem, but I always felt I'd get through this."

Ireland could ill afford to loose O'Driscoll, even against a ponderous Scotland side that has suffered two successive defeats in the Six Nations.

Injury, mixed with the first tentative steps towards a changing of the guard, has robbed the team of invaluable experience and O'Driscoll's leadership is needed now more than ever.

"It's always a learning curve when you have new partnerships in the backline," he said.

"It's a work in progress but in Test rugby you don't have long to get it right, you need to get right as quickly as possible or else someone will replace you."

Ireland: G Murphy (Leicester); T Bowe (Ulster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), A Trimble (Ulster), R Kearney (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps); M Horan (Munster), B Jackman (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: R Best (Ulster), T Buckley (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), P Stringer (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), S Horgan (Leinster).