Jordi Murphy replacing the injured Jamie Heaslip is the only change to the starting line-up for Six Nations champions Ireland’s potential Grand Slam deciding clash with England in Dublin on Sunday.

Murphy, who played in the opening victory over Italy, comes in at No.8 for Heaslip, who suffered three fractured vertebrae when he was kneed in the back by lock Pascal Pape in Ireland’s 18-11 win over France two weeks ago.

It is only the third time in eight Six Nations campaigns that an Ireland side has lined up without British and Irish Lion star Heaslip and comes at an inopportune moment as they face the only other side to have won both their opening two games.

The other changes to the matchday 23 comes on the replacements bench with scrum-half Eoin Reddan replacing Isaac Boss and flanker Tommy O’Donnell — a try scorer against Italy but omitted for the France game — slipping into the vacancy left by Murphy’s promotion.

Ireland’s sole loss under coach Joe Schmidt in his first Six Nations campaign last year came at the hands of England, who have won their last four meetings with the Irish, and won on nine of their last 13 visits to Dublin.

Ireland will be captained by iconic lock Paul O’Connell, who will be winning his 99th Irish cap, and he will be hoping to lead the hosts to a 10th successive test match win, equalling the national record set back in 2002/03 and ended by England in a winner takes all Grand Slam match in Dublin.

Ireland (15-1)

Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jordi Murphy Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony; Paul O’Connell (capt), Devin Toner; Mike Ross, Rory Best, Jack McGrath

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Martin Moore, Iain Henderson, Tommy O’Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Felix Jones

Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)