Ireland v Scotland
O'Driscoll to break O'Gara's appearance record
ESPN Staff
January 31, 2014
Brian O'Driscoll will become Ireland's all-time record appearance holder on Sunday © PA Photos
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Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll will become the country's most capped player on Sunday after being named at outside centre for their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

O'Driscoll will win his 129th cap and overtakes Ronan O'Gara's 128 in the process in what will be his final Six Nations. Rob Kearney will also reach a personal milestone as he makes his 50th appearance.

With Sean O'Brien to miss the entire championship though injury, Chris Henry has stepped into the No.7 shirt. Luke Marshall starts at inside centre with Gordon D'Arcy out through illness while Dave Kearney holds down the left wing berth.

"Gordon's stomach bug was the sole selection criteria, really," Ireland boss Joe Schmidt explained. "Luke Marshall has played really well in the Heineken Cup in big games. He played in the Six Nations last year and played very well against Scotland.

"I thought he played well against Australia in the autumn too. He made a defensive error at one stage, but he's learning all the time. He's working hard at everything we're trying to do. He's between Johnny Sexton and Brian O'Driscoll, so experience-wise, he's a bit inexperienced but either side of him he has two players who can help him navigate his way through the game."

In the pack, Devin Toner partners O'Connell while Martin Moore can win his first Ireland cap if given the opportunity from the bench.

Ireland:

Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney, Brian O'Driscoll, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip

Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Dan Tuohy, Tommy O'Donnell, Isaac Boss, Paddy Jackson, Fergus McFadden

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