Conor Murray and Rob Kearney will miss Ireland’s showdown with England on Saturday through injury, while Devin Toner has been dropped as coach Joe Schmidt made three changes to the team beaten by Wales.
Murray suffered a stinger injury to the shoulder in the defeat against Wales last Friday and was on course to start during the week but this morning, the No 9 failed a fitness test.
Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion, who replaced Murray last week, will win his 13th cap, while Leinster's Luke McGrath is on the bench.
Schmidt: Murray loss leaves big gap in Ireland team pic.twitter.com/VV6JpqIc4p
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 16, 2017
“We fitness-tested him today and we felt he wasn't quite 100 per cent," said Ireland boss Schmidt.
"We just felt if we lost him early in the game, we would be vulnerable.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity for Kieran Marmion."
Schmidt admitted that the team has lost one of its leaders.
"You lose his calm, he’s a good foil for other players, you lose a defender who is incredibly good at organising other people.
"His experience will leave a hole for us."
Full-back Kearney has suffered a knee injury, which will require surgery, paving the way for the return of Jared Payne, who last featured for Ireland against Australia in November.
Asked how long the Leinster back would be on the sidelines, Schmidt said: "It’s hard to say, he’s going to see a specialist, it’s his knee. At this stage we’re hopeful it won’t be for too long."
Here's the Ireland team for #IrevEng @SixNationsRugby #TeamOfUs #shouldertoshoulder pic.twitter.com/1vklWYkz7E
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 16, 2017
New Zealand native Payne has played three games for Ulster in the last few weeks, however.
“His experience will be really important; he played full-back in South Africa," said Schmidt.
“He offers confidence to players in front of him, he’s a very solid player, it’s very seldom he makes an error, in skill or decision-making
“His ability to see space or look after the ball, we’d have a lot of confidence in that."
Second-row Toner, an erstwhile mainstay in Schmidt’s side, has been replaced by Iain Henderson.
The Ulster lock is preferred for his dynamism around the field, deemed necessary to counter the impact of England’s mobile second row of Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes.
“It was a tight call," said the head coach. "Iain Henderson came off the bench and did really well last week.
"Between Donnacha Ryan and Dev (Toner) we just wanted to give him a chance to start. Donnacha also did well last week, so it was just trying to get that balance."
Keith Earls, who was rested during the week due to a groin issue, has been passed fit and Simon Zebo joins him on the wing.
Jonathan Sexton, who underwent and passed HIA protocols after the Cardiff defeat, is named at out-half with Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose outside him in the centre..
The front row of Jack McGrath, captain Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong is retained, Henderson joins Donnacha Ryan behind them, while the back row combination of CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip stays the same.
Munster back Andrew Conway could make his Ireland debut after being named on the bench.
"There's still an opportunity to finish second which is a massive thing for us," added the former Leinster coach.
"We can still attain the target of second place, so there's still a heck of a lot for us to gain individually and collectively."
Ireland: Jared Payne; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo; Johnny Sexton, Kieran Marmion; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Jack McGrath; Iain Henderson, Donnacha Ryan; Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, CJ Stander,
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Devin Toner, Peter O'Mahony, Luke McGrath, Paddy Jackson, Andrew Conway.
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Live Six Nations coverage of Ireland v England on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player (KO 5pm), live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1’s Saturday Sport and live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News Now app.
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