Ian Keatley and Paul Marshall will be the starting half-backs for the Emerging Ireland team to face Russia in their opening game of the IRB Nations Cup.

Keatley and Marshall are two of just five players in the side that have been capped at senior Test level along with winger Craig Gilroy, flanker Tommy O'Donnell and prop Michael Bent.

The side will be captained by Leinster's Dominic Ryan, who has been named in the back row alongside O'Donnell and Munster-bound Robin Copeland.

The Emerging Ireland team and replacements has been named to play Russia in their opening game of the IRB Nations Cup.

Eoin Griffin and Stuart McCloskey make up the centre pairing, while Johne Murphy has been named at full back and he will be partnered in the back-three by Gilroy and Andrew Conway.