As the Six Nations tournament heads into its electrifying finale, Ireland's coach Andy Farrell is banking on seasoned warriors for the upcoming battle against Scotland. The clash, set for this Saturday in Dublin, sees key players returning to the fray with both the Triple Crown and the championship title still within reach. Ireland trails Scotland and the leading French team by just two points, as France prepares to face a struggling England.
Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier, who missed last week’s action, are back to bolster the starting lineup. Sheehan was absent from the 27-17 victory over Wales, while van der Flier was brought on as a substitute. The latter now rejoins the ranks to complete an all-Leinster back row alongside captain Caelan Doris and Jack Conan, last week's Man of the Match. The wing sees a reshuffle as well, with Tommy O’Brien returning to replace Jacob Stockdale, despite Stockdale's notable performance against Wales.
In the second row, Joe McCarthy steps up in place of the injured James Ryan, adding more muscle to the pack. The bench will feature Bundee Aki, an iconic figure in Irish rugby, poised to make an impact after missing the first three matches due to suspension.
"It is an incredible privilege for the squad to play at home in front of a packed stadium with a trophy up for grabs,"
said Farrell, emphasizing the significance of the occasion. He expressed confidence in his team's preparations and readiness to take on a confident Scottish side.
"You’ll see two teams who like to attack and we’ll look to implement our game plan to get the performance that we want. When you factor in a loud home support, and with the game taking place on St Patrick’s weekend, it really has all the ingredients for a cracking contest,"
he added.
The Scottish team is riding high after a stunning 50-40 win over France, but they face a daunting record in Dublin, having not won there since 2010. With the stakes sky-high and both teams in fine form, Saturday promises a clash of titans under the Dublin sky.
IRELAND TEAM: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Tommy O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Tom O’Toole. Bench: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.
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As the Six Nations tournament heads into its electrifying finale, Ireland's coach Andy Farrell is banking on seasoned warriors for the upcoming battle against Scotland. The clash, set for this Saturday in Dublin, sees key players returning to the fray with both the Triple Crown and the championship title still within reach. Ireland trails Scotland and the leading French team by just two points, as France prepares to face a struggling England.
Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier, who missed last week’s action, are back to bolster the starting lineup. Sheehan was absent from the 27-17 victory over Wales, while van der Flier was brought on as a substitute. The latter now rejoins the ranks to complete an all-Leinster back row alongside captain Caelan Doris and Jack Conan, last week's Man of the Match. The wing sees a reshuffle as well, with Tommy O’Brien returning to replace Jacob Stockdale, despite Stockdale's notable performance against Wales.
In the second row, Joe McCarthy steps up in place of the injured James Ryan, adding more muscle to the pack. The bench will feature Bundee Aki, an iconic figure in Irish rugby, poised to make an impact after missing the first three matches due to suspension.
"It is an incredible privilege for the squad to play at home in front of a packed stadium with a trophy up for grabs,"
said Farrell, emphasizing the significance of the occasion. He expressed confidence in his team's preparations and readiness to take on a confident Scottish side."You’ll see two teams who like to attack and we’ll look to implement our game plan to get the performance that we want. When you factor in a loud home support, and with the game taking place on St Patrick’s weekend, it really has all the ingredients for a cracking contest,"
he added.The Scottish team is riding high after a stunning 50-40 win over France, but they face a daunting record in Dublin, having not won there since 2010. With the stakes sky-high and both teams in fine form, Saturday promises a clash of titans under the Dublin sky.
IRELAND TEAM: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Tommy O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Tom O’Toole. Bench: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.