Ireland unchanged for 'huge' Croke Park finale

Ireland will be unchanged for the third straight game when they face Scotland in a Six Nations clash that coach Declan Kidney described as a "huge match" bringing the curtain down on rugby at Croke Park.

Champions Ireland are the only team that can stop France claiming their first Six Nations title in three years but must pray third-placed England can topple the unbeaten French and help bring about a 51-point swing in the points difference.

With a fifth triple crown in seven years up for grabs, and a farewell to bid the home of Gaelic sports before rugby returns to a rebuilt Lansdowne Road, there is a lot at stake.

"It's a huge match for us," Kidney told a news conference on Tuesday. "It's a test match but it's also our last match in Croke Park and there's a trophy at stake for us should we manage to get something out of it."

Kidney's only injury worry ahead of Sunday morning's (NZ time) game is Gordon D'Arcy and the former Munster coach said if the centre has not recovered from deep bruising on his leg by Friday, Ulster's Paddy Wallace will start in his place.

Ireland's British & Irish Lions captain Paul O'Connell, who led them out against France in the first rugby international at Croke Park three years ago, will earn his 70th cap.

Despite winning their last eight Six Nations games against the bottom-of-the-table Scots, Kidney suggested the final game of the championship would be tight and perhaps not the free-for-all fans want ahead of the late kick off in Paris.

"We've conceded about five (tries) this season and Scotland have only conceded six so we know our defence is going to have to be just as tight come Saturday's game because Scotland are a very difficult side to break down," Kidney said.

"We're playing against a side who last year we only managed to get one try against and this year it will be difficult again."

- Reuters