Six Munster players have been named in the Ireland squad to face England in Saturday’s Guinness 6 Nations opener at the Aviva Stadium (4.45pm).

Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander, Conor Murray and Keith Earls all start with Dave Kilcoyne and Joey Carbery among the replacements.

Robbie Henshaw has been named at full-back for the first time since his debut against USA in on the Summer Tour in 2013.

Earls and Jacob Stockdale are named on the wings with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose forming the centre partnership.

Jonathan Sexton and Murray are reunited in the half-backs as Murray returns to the green jersey, having missed the Guinness Series in November through injury.

Up front Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong pack down either side of captain Rory Best.

James Ryan and Devin Toner are in the second row with O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Stander in the back row.

Sean O’Brien is named in the forward replacements alongside Sean Cronin, Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter and Quinn Roux.

John Cooney, Carbery and Jordan Larmour complete the line-up.

Ireland: R Henshaw; K Earls, G Ringrose, B Aki, J Stockdale; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (C), T Furlong; D Toner, J Ryan; P O’Mahony, J van der Flier, CJ Stander.

Replacements: S Cronin, D Kilcoyne, A Porter, Q Roux, S O’Brien, J Cooney, J Carbery, J Larmour.

Next home game

Friday, February 15 – Guinness PRO14: Munster v Southern Kings, Irish Independent Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

6 Nations Rugby In Cork

U20s 6 Nations rugby comes to Cork for the first time in the coming months as Ireland host England and France at Irish Independent Park.

Friday, February 1, 2019

Ireland U20s v England U20s, Irish Independent Park, 7.15pm; Buy tickets here

Friday, March 8, 2019

Ireland U20s v France U20s, Irish Independent Park, 7.15pm; Buy tickets here