Sick O'Connell out of Ireland starting XV

Ireland captain and talisman Paul O’Connell has been forced out of this afternoon's RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland after suffering a chest infection last night.

Ulster lock Dan Tuohy steps up in the second row, while Iain Henderson takes a seat on the bench.

Number eight Jamie Heaslip captains Ireland in O’Connell’s absence, in what is head coach Joe Schmidt’s first-ever Six Nations encounter. Brian O’Driscoll also surpasses Ronan O’Gara as Ireland’s most-capped player with 129 appearances.

Full-back Rob Kearney notches 50 caps with Leinster prop Martin Moore the sole uncapped player in Ireland’s match squad.

Scotland captain Kelly Brown equalls Doddie Weir’s 61-appearance record as the most-capped product of Melrose RFC.

Ireland are gunning to end a four-match Six Nations losing streak, and banish the memory of their agonising 24-22 New Zealand defeat in the final autumn Test.