Scotland's wing Kyle Steyn is all set to clash with Ireland after bouncing back to fitness, as coach Gregor Townsend shakes up his squad with three fresh faces for the Six Nations finale. This high-stakes game at the Aviva Stadium isn't just another match; it's a Triple Crown decider, with both teams eyeing the bigger prize of the Championship—though their fate partly hinges on France's performance against England.
In the wake of injuries to Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist have been called up. Gilchrist isn't just filling shoes; he's about to make history by earning his 88th cap, surpassing Scott Murray for the most appearances as a Scottish lock.
"It's a monumental occasion for Grant, and his experience is invaluable to us in such a crucial match,"
stated Townsend.
Zander Fagerson is another notable addition, stepping in as the starting tighthead prop, a position he claimed after coming off the bench in Scotland's thrilling victory against France last weekend. The front-row is rounded out by Pierre Schoeman and George Turner.
The unchanged back-row features the robust trio of Glasgow Warriors—Matt Fagerson, vice-captain Rory Darge, and number eight Jack Dempsey, showing their synergy in the tournament. The back division remains intact from the victorious French encounter, with Player of the Match Kyle Steyn and double try-scorer Darcy Graham, who now tops Scotland’s all-time men’s try-scoring list with 37.
Blair Kinghorn will continue to guard the back as full-back, with Sione Tuipulotu leading from the center alongside Huw Jones. The tested duo of scrum-half Ben White and fly-half Finn Russell are set to direct the gameplay once more.
New faces on the bench include second-row Alex Craig and back-row Magnus Bradbury, with Kyle Rowe ready to cover the back-three. The rest of the substitutes mirror the lineup from the previous game.
With the stage set for a monumental showdown in Dublin, all eyes will be on how these strategic changes impact Scotland’s quest for the Triple Crown and beyond. The match is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, promising a blend of strategy, skill, and historic potential at the Aviva Stadium.
Scotland team to face Ireland: Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 George Horne, 22 Kyle Rowe, 23 Tom Jordan
2,100 posts
Scotland's wing Kyle Steyn is all set to clash with Ireland after bouncing back to fitness, as coach Gregor Townsend shakes up his squad with three fresh faces for the Six Nations finale. This high-stakes game at the Aviva Stadium isn't just another match; it's a Triple Crown decider, with both teams eyeing the bigger prize of the Championship—though their fate partly hinges on France's performance against England.
In the wake of injuries to Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist have been called up. Gilchrist isn't just filling shoes; he's about to make history by earning his 88th cap, surpassing Scott Murray for the most appearances as a Scottish lock.
"It's a monumental occasion for Grant, and his experience is invaluable to us in such a crucial match,"
stated Townsend.Zander Fagerson is another notable addition, stepping in as the starting tighthead prop, a position he claimed after coming off the bench in Scotland's thrilling victory against France last weekend. The front-row is rounded out by Pierre Schoeman and George Turner.
The unchanged back-row features the robust trio of Glasgow Warriors—Matt Fagerson, vice-captain Rory Darge, and number eight Jack Dempsey, showing their synergy in the tournament. The back division remains intact from the victorious French encounter, with Player of the Match Kyle Steyn and double try-scorer Darcy Graham, who now tops Scotland’s all-time men’s try-scoring list with 37.
Blair Kinghorn will continue to guard the back as full-back, with Sione Tuipulotu leading from the center alongside Huw Jones. The tested duo of scrum-half Ben White and fly-half Finn Russell are set to direct the gameplay once more.
New faces on the bench include second-row Alex Craig and back-row Magnus Bradbury, with Kyle Rowe ready to cover the back-three. The rest of the substitutes mirror the lineup from the previous game.
With the stage set for a monumental showdown in Dublin, all eyes will be on how these strategic changes impact Scotland’s quest for the Triple Crown and beyond. The match is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, promising a blend of strategy, skill, and historic potential at the Aviva Stadium.
Scotland team to face Ireland: Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 George Horne, 22 Kyle Rowe, 23 Tom Jordan