Murray gets nod ahead of Cooney in Ireland team
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray was Tuesday selected ahead of John Cooney for the Six Nations opener against Scotland, while Caelan Doris will make his international debut.
The choice between the experience of Murray and the outstanding form of Cooney was the biggest call facing new head coach Andy Farrell.
Farrell has opted to show faith in 78-cap Munster player Murray, with 29-year-old Cooney among the replacements, despite a series of fine displays for Ulster.
Here’s the Ireland team to play Scotland in the opening round of the #GuinnessSixNations in @AVIVAStadium on Saturday.
Two uncapped players: Caelan Doris & Ronan Kelleher.#ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/Ar7nLV7Krs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 28, 2020
Uncapped Doris, a former Ireland Under-20s captain, has been rewarded with a start at No.8.
His Leinster teammate Ronan Kelleher, who has not played since fracturing a hand on December 7, is named among the replacements, with Rob Herring starting at hooker in place of retired former captain Rory Best.
New skipper Johnny Sexton will lead Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, starting at fly-half after overcoming a knee problem suffered in December.
Ireland: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 CJ Stander, 5 James Ryan, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Robbie Henshaw.
Date: Saturday, February 1
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 16.45 (16.45 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
