Marmion set for first 6 Nations start

16 March 2017

Marmion set for first 6 Nations start
The Ireland coaching group have announced their final match day squad of the RBS 6 Nations Championship 2017 for the match against England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

After impressing off the bench against Wales last Friday night, Kieran Marmion (above) will make his first 6 Nations start in place of Conor Murray, who has not fully recovered from the injury he sustained in Cardiff.

There is one other change in the backline with Jared Payne coming in for Rob Kearney who has been ruled out with a knee injury.

The rest of the backline remains unchanged with Jonathan Sexton at out-half and Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose continuing their centre partnership. Keith Earls and Simon Zebo complete the back three.

Up front Iain Henderson will start alongside Donnacha Ryan in the second row. Rory Best will win his 104th cap with Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong again named alongside him.

The back-row remains unchanged with CJ Stander and Sean O'Brien either side of Jamie Heaslip.

Luke McGrath comes onto the bench to cover Marmion while Andrew Conway is also included in the twenty-three.

Niall Scannell, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Devin Toner Peter O'Mahony and Paddy Jackson complete the replacements.

Ireland Team (v England, RBS 6 Nations, Aviva Stadium, Saturday March 18, 5pm)

15. Jared Payne (Ulster) 19 caps

14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 58 caps

13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps

12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 28 caps

11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 32 caps

10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 65 caps

9. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 11 caps

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's/Leinster) 40 caps

2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 103 caps captain

3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 15 caps

4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 46 caps

5. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 31 caps

6. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 14 caps

7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 48 caps

8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 95 caps vc

Replacements:

16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 3 caps

17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 66 caps

18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 5 caps

19. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 46 caps

20. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 39 caps

21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 1

22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 23 caps

23. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) uncapped