Henshaw Named On Bench For Six Nations Opener

Tuesday, 28 January 2020 13:38

Andy Farrell was naming his side this lunchtime.

There is only room on the bench for Athlone's Robbie Henshaw in Saturday's Guinness Six Nations opener against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.

Leinster number eight Caelan Doris has been handed his first Ireland start.

The Mayo man is joined in the back-row by his provincial teammate Josh van der Flier and Munster's CJ Stander.

New Ireland head-coach Andy Farrell has opted for the familiar half-back pairing of Conor Murray and fit-again captain Johnny Sexton with the in-form John Cooney having to settle with a place on the bench.

Jordan Larmour has shaken off injury to start at full-back with Andrew Conway and Jacob Stockdale on the wings,

Bundee Aki joins Garry Ringrose in midfield.

Rob Herring starts at hooker with Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong completing the front-row while James Ryan and Iain Henderson are the locks.

Ronan Kelleher could win his first cap from the bench.

TEAM IN FULL:

15. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 21 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 18 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 28 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 23 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 25 caps
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College/Leinster) 88 caps Captain
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 78 caps

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 95 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 8 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 41 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 53 caps
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 23 caps
6. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 38 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 23 caps
8. Caelan Doris (UCD/Leinster)*

Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 36 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 23 caps
19. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 67 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 64 caps
21. John Cooney (Terenure College/Ulster) 8 caps
22. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 3 caps
23. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 40 caps