O'Brien back to face Scotland

Sean O'Brien has been named in the Ireland starting XV for Saturday's RBS Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield.

O'Brien has not played since Leinster's win over Zebre in the Guinness PRO12 after complaining of a tight calf with the problem taking longer than expected to clear.

He has trained fully ahead of the trip to Edinburgh and will take his place at number seven alongside CJ Stander, who gets the nod at blindside, and Jamie Heaslip at number eight.

A medial ligament injury to Donnacha Ryan means Joe Schmidt and his coaching staff have named Iain Henderson in the second row where he will lock down with Devin Toner, with Ultan Dillane starting on the bench.

Jack McGrath gets the nod to start at loosehead prop in a front row that also includes captain Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong.

With Johnny Sexton ruled out through injury, Paddy Jackson is named at out-half with Ian Keatley providing the cover from the bench. Jackson, who will be making his sixth start in eight games for Ireland, is joined in the half-back line by Conor Murray.

Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose will team up in the centre.

Andrew Trimble inability to train fully this week means he will miss out with Keith Earls and Simon Zebo starting on the wings and Rob Kearney taking his place at full-back.

Ireland (XV v Scotland): R Kearney; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, S Zebo; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best (capt), T Furlong; Iain Henderson, D Toner; CJ Stander, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.

Replacements: N Scannell, C Healy, J Ryan, U Dillane, J van der Flier, K Marmion, I Keatley, T Bowe.

Meanwhile, Vern Cotter has made three changes to the side that defeated Georgia in November with Fraser Brown starting at hooker in place of Ross Ford.

Brown is joined in the front row by Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson, who only have seven caps between them, while brothers Jonny and Richie Gray team up on the second row.

Josh Strauss comes in to take his place at number eight with Ryan Wilson moving to blindside and Hamish Watson starting at openside.

There is a familar look to the back three as Stuart Hogg starts at full-back with Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour taking their place on the wings.

Huw Jones starts in the centre alongside Alex Dunbar, while Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell play at nine and ten respectively

Scotland (XV v Ireland): S Hogg; S Maitland, H Jones, A Dunbar, T Seymour; F Russell, G Laidlaw; A Dell, F Brown, Z Fagerson, R Gray, J Gray, R Wilson, H Watson, J Strauss.

Replacements: R Ford, G Reid, S Berghan, T Swinson, J Barclay, A Price, D Weir, M Bennett.

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