Closing out the Guinness Six Nations with a win over Scotland would see Ireland secure the Triple Crown on home soil for the first time since 2004, while putting added pressure on a Grand Slam-seeking France.
2022 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, March 19
IRELAND (2nd) v SCOTLAND (4th), Aviva Stadium, 4.45pm (live Virgin Media One/ITV 1/UTV/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/IRFU Live Blog)
Team News: Jonathan Sexton will become Ireland’s joint sixth most-capped player, equalling John Hayes’ caps tally of 105 when he leads the side out for the Triple Crown decider.
Jamison Gibson-Park will again pair up with Sexton at half-back, with the starting XV showing three changes to the team that started against England last weekend.
Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are retained in midfield with a back-three featuring Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Mack Hansen. The Connacht winger comes in for Andrew Conway who is being managed for a knee niggle.
The front row of Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong is retained, while Tadhg Beirne and Iain Henderson combine at lock.
Jack Conan returns at number 8, following his try-scoring cameo against England, with Caelan Doris reverting to the blindside flank. Josh van der Flier makes his eighth consecutive start at openside.
The replacements are Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Robbie Henshaw.
The Virgin Media and ITV-televised game could see Ireland win the Triple Crown for the first time since 2018. Victory would also move them to the top of the table ahead of France’s final match at home to England.
Head coach Andy Farrell commented: “As I said last week, people were right for the England game, it was the right balance. That is what squad selection is all about, picking the right team for the right occasion.
“Jack (Conan) has done pretty well coming off the bench, he’ll be a fresh enough pair of legs to be at his best on Saturday evening.
“I thought James (Lowe) played really well last week, he’s not played too many games and that’ll be great for him to step up a notch this weekend.
“Hugo (Keenan) was immense and he’s really grown his game, it’s great – you guys asked Hugo the question yourselves, you look how well Michael Lowry is doing, the type of pressure that puts on the likes of Hugo is pressure that you want.
“You see people responding in the way that they should do, when they take to the field the next time and perform like he did. That’s what a competitive squad is all about. Those two did really well.
“Mack, we know what he brings. We’ve only seen him three times in an Irish shirt, but we know what he brings. He links unbelievably well, he’s got a good feel for a winger, he creates an extra pair of hands, an extra nous of where the space is.
“He’s quick and he’s a good finisher. He’s improving all the time, how to be an international player, and this type of experience on Saturday will be priceless for him.”
Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made two changes to the starting line-up for their final game, with Blair Kinghorn and Jonny Gray both selected to start.
Versatile Edinburgh back Kinghorn is rewarded for some impressive performances, including his starring role in the recent United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
He comes in at out-half to partner Ali Price, who won his 50th cap in the 33-22 bonus point success against Italy in Rome last weekend.
Exeter Chiefs second row Gray is also back as a starter, having been ruled out of Scotland’s last two matches through injury. His club-mate, Stuart Hogg, captains the Scots from full-back.
Guinness Six Nations Results/Fixtures
Guinness Six Nations Table
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster).
SCOTLAND: Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) (capt); Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Chris Harris (Gloucester), Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors); Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors); Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell (London Irish), WP Nel (Edinburgh), Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Ben White (London Irish), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Mark Bennett (Edinburgh).
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson, Christophe Ridley (both England)
Television Match Official: Stuart Terheege (England)
Pre-Match Quotes: Josh van der Flier (Ireland) –
We spoke about it throughout the tournament, these opportunities don’t come by so often. I’ve been very fortunate with Leinster to be on the field when we’ve won trophies, but to do it for Ireland would be absolutely incredible.
“Definitely with the prospect of silverware and finishing off the Six Nations on a high by trying to put in a big performance and right a few wrongs, there’s a good buzz around the place.
“Scotland have very good players. Rory Darge has been brilliant. I played against him early on in the season. He’s been really good for them.
“Big breakdown threat, good ball carriers, Hamish Watson obviously as well. He’s a Lions player, extremely dangerous and a really good ball carrier, and great over the ball as well.
“Then you have (Matt) Fagerson and (Magnus) Bradbury, all good players. Good offloads, good carriers of the ball, so I think it’s probably important from our attack perspective that we’re not giving them those opportunities in the breakdown.
“Then in defence, make sure we’re not giving them that momentum because they are good at offloads and they are good carriers of the ball once they get a bit of momentum.”
Hamish Watson (Scotland) –
The Six Nations started really well, on such a positive note (against England), but we didn’t manage to back it up against Wales and that hit our confidence.
“We’ve worked hard this tournament but I don’t think we’ve played at our best so it’s about trying to put everything together and put in a performance against Ireland.
“I think if we got a win away in Ireland, which is going to be a tough task, it would be a nice way to top off the tournament.
“It’s a very tough place to go and play. It’s quite a hostile environment but we believe in ourselves and the last time we went there (in the Six Nations), it was decided within a try so it should be a tight game.
“Ireland are one of the in-form teams in world rugby so we’re excited to test ourselves against them.”
Pre-Match Links –
Sexton: Scotland Are A Team To Be Reckoned With
Henderson Hungry To Lift Silverware On Home Soil
Farrell Targeting ‘Best Performance Of The Tournament’
‘We’re Looking To Go Out On A High’ – Conan
Catt: It’s About Staying Calm And Making The Right Decisions
In Pics: Ireland Complete Scotland Prep At Aviva Stadium Captain’s Run
Recent Meetings –
2019: Guinness Six Nations: Scotland 13 Ireland 22, BT Murrayfield; Rugby World Cup Pool A: Ireland 27 Scotland 3, International Stadium Yokohama
2020: Guinness Six Nations: Ireland 19 Scotland 12, Aviva Stadium; Autumn Nations Cup/Guinness Series: Ireland 31 Scotland 16, Aviva Stadium
2021: Guinness Six Nations: Scotland 24 Ireland 27, BT Murrayfield
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