Marshall at ease with the pressure

Luke Marshall may be new to Test rugby but he has already seen enough on the eve of his fifth cap to know that the Ireland squad now being guided by Joe Schmidt should be showing just how good it really is.

The 22-year-old Ulster centre is out to prove his worth at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow when Ireland open their Six Nations campaign against Scotland, having been chosen ahead of international veteran Gordon D’Arcy to partner Brian O’Driscoll in the Irish midfield.

Both those Leinster men were stars on TV when a 16-year-old Marshall watched from his sofa as Ireland claimed the Grand Slam in 2009, and now training and playing alongside his heroes, the youngster knows it is high time the men in green lived up fully to their capabilities on the championship stage.