The Ireland coaching group have named their team that will take on England at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon, with Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey included for the first time.
Rory Best leads the team and is joined in the front row by Jack McGrath and Mike Ross. The second row sees Donnacha Ryan come in to partner Devin Toner while Josh van der Flier will make his international debut at openside in a back row that includes CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip.
The halfbacks are Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton with Robbie Henshaw shifting to outside centre and new cap McCloskey filling the No.12 shirt. Keith Earls returns to join Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney in the back three.
The replacements include Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Simon Zebo.
Ulster’s Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, welcomed the news of McCloskey’s inclusion:
“Everyone at Ulster Rugby is immensely proud of Stuart’s selection in the national team. He has grown as a player over the past two years and that has been really pleasing to see. Stuart has worked very hard to develop his passing skills before the line and his offloading ability and he has gone from strength to strength for us. His defensive work has also been sensational within our system and that has hugely benefited the team. He is a selfless team man and we are very pleased he has been rewarded with his first Irish jersey.”
Ireland team to play England – Saturday 27th February, 2016 RBS 6 Nations Championship:
15. Rob Kearney (UCD / Leinster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena / Ulster)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers / Connacht)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch / Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster / Munster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen / Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge / Ulster) (c)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf / Leinster)
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon / Munster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne / Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD / Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University / Leinster) (vc)
Replacements
16. Richard Strauss (Old Wesley / Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf / Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Connacht)
19. Ultane Dillane (Corinthians / Connacht)
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College / Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent / Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College / Leinster)
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con / Munster)
Rory Best leads the team and is joined in the front row by Jack McGrath and Mike Ross. The second row sees Donnacha Ryan come in to partner Devin Toner while Josh van der Flier will make his international debut at openside in a back row that includes CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip.
The halfbacks are Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton with Robbie Henshaw shifting to outside centre and new cap McCloskey filling the No.12 shirt. Keith Earls returns to join Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney in the back three.
The replacements include Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Simon Zebo.
Ulster’s Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, welcomed the news of McCloskey’s inclusion:
“Everyone at Ulster Rugby is immensely proud of Stuart’s selection in the national team. He has grown as a player over the past two years and that has been really pleasing to see. Stuart has worked very hard to develop his passing skills before the line and his offloading ability and he has gone from strength to strength for us. His defensive work has also been sensational within our system and that has hugely benefited the team. He is a selfless team man and we are very pleased he has been rewarded with his first Irish jersey.”
Ireland team to play England – Saturday 27th February, 2016 RBS 6 Nations Championship:
15. Rob Kearney (UCD / Leinster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena / Ulster)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers / Connacht)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch / Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster / Munster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen / Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge / Ulster) (c)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf / Leinster)
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon / Munster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne / Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD / Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University / Leinster) (vc)
Replacements
16. Richard Strauss (Old Wesley / Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf / Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Connacht)
19. Ultane Dillane (Corinthians / Connacht)
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College / Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent / Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College / Leinster)
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con / Munster)