Connacht’s Kieran Marmion, Tiernan O’Halloran and Quinn Roux have all been named in the Ireland team to face the USA tomorrow night with Dave Heffernan set to make his international debut off the bench (kick-off 5pm local time/10pm Irish time).
Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale will win his first Ireland cap at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey with four more potential debutants on the Irish bench.
Rhys Ruddock will captain a youthful Ireland team from the blindside flank, the side selected by head coach Joe Schmidt having an average age of 25 and including two 21-year-olds in debutant Jacob Stockdale and Joey Carbery.
Powerful Ulster back Stockdale, who finished the recent Guinness PRO12 season with nine tries, gets a chance to impress on the left wing, making his international debut in a back-three that also contains the experienced Keith Earls and O’Halloran, who is set for his third start at full-back.
Garry Ringrose and Luke Marshall, the same centre pairing from last November’s home win over Canada, will man the Irish midfield this weekend, while Carbery will make his first start in the number 10 jersey alongside Connacht’s Marmion.
Cian Healy, who is the most experienced member of the squad with 67 caps, will combine with Munster duo Niall Scannell and John Ryan in the front row, with Corkman Ryan making his first start at tighthead after appearing as a replacement in Ireland’s last five games.
Connacht powerhouse Roux will win his second cap alongside Devin Toner in the second row, while