Kieran Marmion made his Connacht debut aged just 20, after starring for Ireland in the U20 World Cup where they shocked hosts South Africa in the opening game of the tournament.

His emergence for Connacht, along with Robbie Henshaw’s was the beginning of their revival, and in his first season with Connacht – he started all six Heineken Cup games and all 22 PRO12 games. The following year (2013/14) he played in every game again, further establishing himself as a quality scrum-half.

At the time, Eoin Reddan and Isaac Boss were the two scrumhalves backing up Conor Murray – both of whom were very close to the end of their careers and in their mid-30s.

Yet, no international cap was forthcoming. He was named in the 2013 tour to USA and Canada, but did not feature in the matchday squads – with Isaac Boss and Paul Marshall preferred.

His First Cap

Finally, Marmion did enough to get to go on the tour to Argentina where he made his first and second cap. He got a respectable 22 minutes in the first game, coming on with the score at 23-10 (FT 29-17). But in what was a sign of things to come, he replaced Eoin Reddan in the 77th minute of the closer second test – Ireland winning 23-17.

From there, Marmion’s influence with Connacht grew – but he lost ground with Ireland. 18 minutes against Georgia in November 2014 was the last time Marmion would be seen in an Ireland jersey for almost a year, leading into the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup

Ireland went into the warm-up games for the tournament with four scrumhalves. Isaac Boss and Kieran Marmion were expected to battle for the third scrumhalf spot in the World Cup squad. This wasn’t a youth against experience battle. Marmion had three full years starting and being influential for Connacht despite his international inexperienced. It became clear that Boss’ form wasn’t going to be good enough to make the final squad, but Schmidt only gave Marmion 13 minutes of game-time in Ireland’s opening warm-up game – the hammering of Wales, coming on with the score at 35-7.

Instead of replacing Boss in the World Cup party, Schmidt made the bold and controversial choice to choose two scrum-halves in his 31-man squad instead of trusting either Boss or Marmion.

Marmion’s inclusion in the World Cup wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the tournament, but it’s another sign of the deep distrust Schmidt had in him.

Six Nations Debut

The 2016 Six Nations was Kieran Marmion’s first. He was named in the matchday squad for the opening day draw with Wales – but along with James Cronin, did not get off the bench. Both were dropped for the next game as Cian Healy and Eoin Reddan returned.

After the Welsh draw and the losses to England and France eliminated Ireland’s title chances – Marmion returned to the bench against Italy. He came on for 22 minutes, with Ireland already up 46-15. Eoin Reddan returned to the bench for the next game, earning two minutes against Scotland.

With Eoin Reddan aged 35, and unlikely to play much further into the World Cup cycle – Marmion was expected to get some much needed international playing time on the tour to South Africa. It was perfect timing, because Marmion had just helped Connacht to an unlikely PRO12 title – being named in the PRO12 dream team of the year as a result.

In Ireland’s victorious opening test, Marmion was an unused replacement.

The second test was at altitude, and it was obvious from early in the second half that Ireland were struggling with fitness and the conditions, and were tiring. Ireland conceded tries in the 55th, 63rd, and 69th minutes, and their lead was shrinking. Yet Marmion remained on the bench. It was only after Damian de Allende’s try in the 75th minute, where he burst through a tired Conor Murray – did Marmion get on. That’s another three minutes to add to his total.

Marmion was dropped for the final test, and Eoin Reddan came onto the bench for his final minutes as a professional.

After Reddan’s retirement – Marmion was on the bench for the historic Chicago test against New Zealand. Again, he was an unused replacement.

Things were looking up from there though. The following week against Canada, on his seventh cap – Marmion made his first international start. He scored a try against the Canadians in his 67 minutes before his U20 rival Luke McGrath came on.

Move to wing

From that moment, Marmion’s international career was different. He was going to get more minutes.

It was just in a different position. First, it happened for the final eight minutes against New Zealand in the return test in Dublin, playing on the wing replacing Simon Zebo. Then, for an entire half on the wing against Australia – and he did well. Forced to make six tackles and defend in an unfamiliar position – Marmion was part of the huge second half defensive effort that secured the win.

That might have been enough to earn one coaches’ trust – but not Schmidt. In the first game of the 2017 Six Nations, Marmion was back to being an unused sub. He did get on in the next two games – 12 minutes against Italy (with the score already at 42-10), and two minutes against France.

Which brings us to the debacle against Wales. Conor Murray has one arm. He’s severely injured. He gets hit in the 33rd minute, and it appears obvious to most that he can’t continue. He shakes of the medics, but is down again in serious agony but a minute later. It’s clear his passes are affected, and his tackles weak.

It took until the 45th minute for Marmion to be introduced for the most amount of gametime he’s had at scrum-half for Ireland. He didn’t look out of place. His passing was quick and crisp, and he monstered Ross Moriarty out of touch too.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Luke McGrath takes his place next week.

In summary, Kieran Marmion has been named on the bench for Ireland 15 times, coming on more more than 10 minutes in just six of those games – including one stint on the wing.

That implies just four caps of over ten minutes where Marmion was brought on tactically. Ireland’s lead in those games at the time of his introductions were 13 (Argentina), 31 (Georgia), 28 (Wales), 31(Italy), 32(Italy).

This isn’t a first-year player getting treating like this. This is someone who has played in over 100 games for Connacht, won a PRO12 title with them, and was named in the league’s team of the season.

Take from that what you will.