Tigers club captain Murphy, who made his return from injury in Tigers’ pre-season fixture with Montpelier last week, starts at full-back. He is joined in the back three by former Tigers teammate Johne Murphy.
Another ex Tigers player, Leo Cullen, captains the side while former Leicester flanker Shane Jennings makes his return from a broken arm.
Ireland Select XV (v Connacht, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin, Thursday, August 18th, kick-off 6.30pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
14 Johne Murphy (Munster)
13 Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
12 Ian Keatley (Munster)
11 Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
10 Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
9 Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
1 Tony Buckley (Sale)
2 Sean Cronin (Leinster)
3 John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
6 Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
7 Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
8 Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Leinster)
Replacements
16 Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)
17 Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
18 Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster)
20 Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
21 Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 Ian Whitten (Ballymena/Ulster)
Ireland will play a second game of the week against France in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
