The former South Africa Under 20 international has served the three-year residential period required to qualify to play for his adopted country and will join Munster team mate Tommy O’Donnell and Jamie Heaslip in the back row. O’Donnell returns to the Test arena for the first time since missing the World Cup after dislocating is hip in the warm-up match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in August.
There will be a 6 Nations debut for the New Zealand-born tight head prop Nathan White as he packs down against Rob Evans. White made his first start for Ireland against Wales in their 16-10 defeat in Dublin in August ahead of the World Cup.
Among the replacements are former Wales Under 18 skipper Rhys Ruddock, son of the 2005 Welsh Grand Slam coach Mike, and Connacht scrum half Kieran Mar ion, who was brought up in Brecon, attended Christ College and UWIC.
Ireland
15. Simon Zebo (Munster) 21 caps
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14. Andrew Trimble (Ulster) 58
13. Jared Payne (Ulster) 10
12. Robbie Henshaw (Connacht) 15
11. Keith Earls (Munster) 46
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) 56
9. Conor Murray (Munster) 42
1. Jack McGrath (/Leinster) 25
2. Rory Best (Ulster) 89 Captain
3. Nathan White (Connacht) 8
4. Mike McCarthy (Leinster) 17
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 31
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Tommy O’Donnell (Munster) 9
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster) 80
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (Leinster) 48
17. James Cronin (Munster) 2
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) 3
19. Donnacha Ryan (Munster) 34
20. Rhys Ruddock (Leinster) 6
21. Kieran Marmion (Connacht) 4
22. Ian Madigan (Leinster) 25
23. David Kearney (Leinster) 14
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