Irish boost as Marmion faces Dragons

KIERAN MARMION is set to play for Connacht against the Dragons on Saturday in a bid to crank up his game-time minutes ahead of the November internationals.

The 26-year old, who has played only 225 minutes this season across six games, won the last of his 22 caps against Australia in the summer.

He will be hoping to get the nod to play against Argentina on Saturday week as he bids to hold off competition from Luke McGrath and John Cooney to be the main back-up to Conor Murray.

Marmion played the opening 49 minutes of Connacht’s disappointing 22-17 loss away to Ospreys last weekend.