Ireland ditch bench tactic for Six Nations title decider after England struggles as Garry Ringrose returns

Colin Newboult 14 Mar 2024 2:40 PM

Garry Ringrose in Ireland training during the 2024 Six Nations.

Ireland have decided to revert to the 5-3 split on the bench for their Six Nations encounter against Scotland on ‘Super Saturday’.

Head coach Andy Farrell has named an unchanged XV from the side that were shocked by England at Twickenham in Round Four.

That 23-22 reversal at the hands of the Red Rose ended their chances of back-to-back Grand Slams, but they will secure the title with a victory this weekend.

Heavy favourites for the Championship

A losing bonus-point should also be enough for Ireland, with their points difference vastly superior to England’s, but they will want to finish the 2024 Six Nations in style.

Farrell has therefore given the same starting line-up from last week the opportunity to right the wrongs from that encounter.

That means Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe make up the back three against Scotland, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw at centre.

Ireland’s head coach has resisted the temptation to bring Garry Ringrose back into the run-on side, but the talented playmaker is lying in wait on the bench.

Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park continue at half-back, while up front Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and captain Peter O’Mahony are the loose trio.

The team is completed by a physical and gifted front five, with Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy the lock combination, and Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter the front-row partnership.

Gregor Townsend tinkers with Scotland team to face Ireland after Italy defeat

On the bench, Farrell has decided to sacrifice Iain Henderson for another back as Ringrose comes into the 23.

They paid the price for the 6-2 split last weekend after both Nash and Ciaran Frawley were forced off after failing head injury assessments, resulting in scrum-half Gibson-Park playing out wide.

Frawley has been replaced by Harry Byrne in the squad, with Conor Murray the other backline option.

Finally, Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham cover the front-row, with Ryan Baird and Jack Conan the other forward replacements.

Baird is the utility option, given his ability to cover lock and the back-row, while Conan can operate at either six or eight.

Ireland team to face Scotland

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose

Date: Saturday, March 16
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)