D'Arcy and Wallace face late fitness test

Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy will face a late fitness test ahead of his side's final Six Nations clash with Scotland this weekend.

D’Arcy limped off during Ireland’s 27-12 win against Wales and is one of a number of injury doubts boss Declan Kidney has to face.

Ireland remains on course for the Triple Crown but Kidney will be hoping Munster flanker David Wallace recovers from a scratch to the eye.

Cian Healy has a bruised shoulder but should be fit for the farewell Croke Park Six Nations contest, while weekend two-try hero Keith Earls is struggling with tight calf muscles.

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Kidney eager to wave goodbye to Croke Park on a high.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has told his players not to forget what is at stake when they take on Scotland in their last Six Nations fixture of 2010 on Saturday.

France’s demolition of Italy on Sunday means even if England do the impossible and beat the champions-elect in Paris, Ireland will need to overhaul a huge points difference to retain their title.

But with the Triple Crown still a possibility and the visit of Andy Robinson’s Scotland representing Ireland’s final match at Croke Park before they return to Lansdowne Road after a four-year absence, Kidney is desperate for his players to sign off with a win.

“For us Saturday is a final. Being a bit older than the players I came through two decades when we never won anything,” said Kidney, who will be well aware victory will see Ireland claim their fifth Triple Crown in seven years.

“We're playing Scotland next week in a one-off Test match which we see as a final.

“The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) have been hugely supportive of us while we've been at Croke Park and maybe we can pay them due respect by playing our last match here as if it's a final.

“The Scots are known for ruining Irish parties and they'll want to do that once more.

“The great thing about the Six Nations is that no two games are ever alike and they all present different challenges.”

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Wallace aware of Williams threat

Ireland flanker David Wallace has warned his team-mates of the threat of Wales captain Martyn Williams ahead of the Six Nations clash at Croke Park.

Wallace toured South Africa with Williams on the British Lions tour last summer and saw first-hand the qualities of the Cardiff Blues star, who has been named skipper in place of Ryan Jones.

Williams replaced Wallace for the third test win against the World Champions but the Ireland No.7 can’t wait to go toe-to-toe this time around.

“Martyn is a very good footballer. He’s very good at poaching the ball,” said Wallace. “If you don’t have good numbers around rucks, you leave yourself open for him to pilfer the ball.

“He can play like an outside-half or a winger at times – he has soft hands and can kick too and it’s hard to pick faults in his game.

“I’ve also done two tours with him – he’s a good leader and the guys will want to play for him.”

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Ireland unchanged for Wales clash.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has stuck with the same XV that beat England at Twickenham for the  Six Nations clash with Wales at Croke Park.

Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip was the only doubt after picking up an ankle injury in the 20-16 victory for which he was named man of the match but will be fully fit.

Clubmate Jonny Sexton also keeps his place in the No.10 shirt despite an impressive cameo from replacement Ronan O’Gara against England.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll is in line to win his 100th cap – his 63rd as captain – with second-row Donncha O’Callaghan making his 60th appearance.

And in the only change to the matchday squad fit-again full-back Rob Kearney returns to the bench after recovering from the knee injury he sustained in the defeat to France.

The Leinster and British Lions star takes the place of Andrew Trimble as Geordan Murphy keeps hold of the starting slot.

Ireland: G Murphy; Bowe, B O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Earls; Sexton, O’Leary; Healy, R Best, Hayes, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip.

Replacements: Buckley, Cronin, Cullen, Jennings, Reddan, O’Gara, Kearney

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Bowe hails Kidney's wise words

Ireland winger Tommy Bowe has thanked coach Declan Kidney for turning around his Six Nations campaign in the win over England.

Bowe stole the show at Twickenham with two tries in the 20-16 victory to finally open his account in this year’s tournament.

The Ospreys star’s confidence was dwindling after he had been a virtual spectator in the win over Italy and defeat to France but after Kidney’s intervention he took his international tally to 13 tries in 28 appearances.

The 26-year-old will face several club team-mates when Ireland welcome Wales to Croke Park this weekend and Bowe can’t wait to get back to action.

“Not many coaches would spot that I was trying too hard but that’s one of Declan’s main strengths,” said Bowe.

“You don’t like being pulled aside by the head coach in front of everyone but he wanted a quiet word and told me to relax.

“I didn’t think I’d done that badly in the first two games but I was very, very frustrated.

“And I know people like Andrew Trimble and Shane Horgan are breathing down my neck – I just want to keep as much distance between us as possible.”

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O'Driscoll shook off virus to star against England

Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll has admitted he was fighting off a virus when he helped his side down England 20-16 in last weekend's Six Nations clash at Twickenham.

The 31-year-old, who was stretchered off with 15 minutes to play after being accidently struck on the head by team-mate Paul O’Connell, went down with the bug the day before the game.

And O’Driscoll paid tribute to the rest of the squad for taking the pressure off his shoulders for the clash with England.

“I was happy enough just making the game,” said O’Driscoll. “I was thankful to see the rain because it slowed the game down a bit.

“The illness was definitely a distraction and I was grateful to Paul O’Connell and Jamie Heaslip, amongst others, who did most of the talking prior to the match.

“I managed to camouflage the fact that I wasn’t feeling great reasonably well.”

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Heaslip sits out Irish training

Ireland No.8 Jamie Heaslip was the only player to sit out training as Declan Kidney drilled his troops ahead of next week's Six Nations clash against Wales.

Heaslip is still suffering the effects of a sprained ankle picked up in the victory over England but his absence from the Carton House session is merely seen as a precautionary measure.

The other casualty from the 20-16 win at Twickenham – Ireland’s sixth defeat of England in their last seven meetings – was captain Brian O’Driscoll who was accidentally kneed in the head by teammate Paul O’Connell.

But after undergoing a compulsory cognitive test, centre O’Driscoll was given the all clear to take part in the full training sessions.

Ulster duo Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace were also part of the session, despite not starting against England, although they are still due to play for their region against the Scarlets on Friday night.

Kidney was also able to call on the services of Leicester winger Johne Murphy after the Tigers decided they did not require his services for the rematch of last year’s Guinness Premiership play-off final against London Irish.

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