Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union

Peter O'Mahony comes into the Ireland side to face Scotland in Dublin

Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien will miss the Six Nations game against Scotland because of a skin infection on his foot which has failed to clear up in time.

Peter O'Mahony will now move from the replacements to start at number seven, with Shane Jennings taking O'Mahony's place on the bench.

Ulster hooker Rory Best will lead the team after being passed fit.

Best sustained a rib injury in the draw against France but scans revealed no major damage.

He takes over the captaincy from the injured Paul O'Connell who is replaced at lock by Donnacha Ryan.

The other change from the game in Paris sees Eoin Reddan replacing injured Conor Murray at scrum-half.

O'Connell, who has led Ireland in the Six Nations so far this year, and Murray are out of the rest of the tournament.

Lock O'Connell is likely to be out for around six weeks because of a medial ligament injury.

Murray sustained bruising to a knee joint against the French and will be out of action for around three weeks.

Rory Best facts Made his debut as against NZ in 2005 as a replacement

Helped Ireland win 2007 Triple Crown

Part of 2009 Grand Slam-winning team

Captained Ireland on 2009 North American Tour

Owns prize-winning cattle

Connacht forward Mike McCarthy and Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary, who were added to the Irish squad as cover because of the injuries suffered by O'Connell and Murray, have been named in the replacements.

Best previously captained Ireland on the 2009 summer tour of North America when Brian O'Driscoll and O'Connell were unavailable because of their Lions tour commitments.

However, Saturday's game will be the first time that Best has skippered Ireland in a Six Nations encounter.

Ulster hooker Best described being handed the captaincy as a "great honour".

"It's something growing up that you dream of," added Best.

"It's very unfortunate what has happened to Paulie (Paul O'Connell) but I was obviously very honoured when Declan [Kidney, coach] asked me to captain the side.

"We know we'll have to be on the money against Scotland. It will be a massive challenge for our defence."

Best added that he had trained fully on Wednesday morning after undergoing a precautionary scan on Tuesday.

Keith Earls (groin) and Donncha O'Callaghan (ankle) picked up knocks against France but are expected to be fit for Saturday's match.

Kidney said that he had no hesitation in picking Ryan and Reddan to replace the injured duo.

"Donnacha and Eoin have been doing a lot of work with us over the past few weeks and will get their chance now," added Kidney.

"Donnacha was probably unlucky not to get starting in earlier games when we opted to pick Donncha O'Callaghan alongside Paul O'Connell."

TEAM NEWS

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Rory Best (capt), Mike Ross; Donncha O'Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan; Stephen Ferris, Peter O'Mahony, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Mike McCarthy, Shane Jennings, Tomas O'Leary, Ronan O'Gara, Fergus McFadden.