Ireland are going into battle with several walking wounded.
Talk of an unchanged Ireland team have proved unfounded as Joe Schmidt was forced into three changes from his team that lost to Wales last week.
Jared Payne, Kieran Marmion and Iain Henderson are all in for Saturday’s game against Six Nations champions England. Rob Kearney and Conor Murray are out of the squad completely while Devin Toner drops to the bench.
There was a sense of pandemonium at Carton House, ahead of the announcement, as no team sheets were forthcoming and there were murmurs of later changes to the squad.
Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw continue in midfield, with Kieran Marmion and Johnny Sexton the half backs.
In the pack, the Irish front row is comprised of Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong and captain Rory Best. Henderson and Donnacha Ryan are in the second row while CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip are in the back row.
On the bench, Luke McGrath, Paddy Jackson and Munster’s Andrew Conway are included as backline cover.
England named their team earlier today, with Billy Vunipola and Anthony Watson coming back into a side chasing 19 Test wins in a row… and a Grand Slam.
IRELAND
15. Jared Payne
14. Keith Earls
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Simon Zebo
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (c)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Iain Henderson
5. Donncha Ryan
6. CJ Stander
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: N Scannell, Healy, J Ryan, Toner, O’Mahony, L McGrath, Jackson, Conway.
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