Five Munster Men Named For 6 Nations Opener

1st February 2018 By The Editor

The Ireland coaching group have named the match day 23 for their opening fixture of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations Championship as they take on Les Bleus at the Stade de France.

Munster’s Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander, Conor Murray, Keith Earls will start for Ireland against France in the 6 Nations opener on Saturday with John Ryan among the replacements.

Rory Best captains the side and is joined in the front row by Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong. Iain Henderson and James Ryan line-out in the second row with O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Stander filling the backrow positions.

Murray and Johnny Sexton are named at half-back with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw in midfield. The back three consists of Rob Kearney at fullback with Earls and Jacob Stockdale on the wings.

The replacements are Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, John Ryan, Devin Toner, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, Joey Carbery and Fergus McFadden.

Ireland Squad to play France – Stade de France, Saturday 3rd February, 2018

15 Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 78 caps

14 Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 62 caps

13 Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 31 caps

12 Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 2 caps

11 Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 4 caps

10 Johnny Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 68 caps

9 Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 59 caps

1 Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 73 caps

2 Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 106 caps (captain)

3 Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 19 caps