LIMERICK duo, Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray will start for Ireland against Scotland on Sunday in the opening game of the RBS Six Nations 2014. The Munster men will be joined on the starting XV by provincial colleague Peter O’Mahony.
Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney will both reach significant career milestones when they line out against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
O’Driscoll will earn his 129th cap on Sunday and in doing so becomes Ireland’s most capped player of all time while Kearney will claim his 50th cap for Ireland.
Paul O’Connell captain’s the side and will be partnered in the second row by Devin Toner. The front-row is made up of Leinster duo Cian Healy and Mike Ross with Ulster’s Rory Best at hooker.
The backrow sees Chris Henry come in at open side with Munster captain Peter O’Mahony on the blindside and Jamie Heaslip at No.8.
Conor Murray partners Johnny Sexton at half-back with Luke Marshall and Brian O’Driscoll partnered in the centre. The back three sees Rob Kearney at fullback and Dave Kearney and Andrew Trimble on the wings.
IRELAND Team & Replacements v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Sunday, January 2nd kick-off 15.00 GMT
Player/Club/Province/Caps
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 49
14. David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 2
13. Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 128
12. Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 4
11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 50
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 38
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 22
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 60
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 9
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19
5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 88 capt
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 10
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 34
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 70
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 42
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 30
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 3
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 7
20. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 2
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 17
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 5
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 21
*denotes uncapped player
