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Hugo Keenan has a late injury and is replaced at fullback by Jordan Larmour.
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That could be significant as Keenan is often the glue that holds all the best Irish performances together. Larmour is nippy, but he’s a long way short of the class of his Leinster team mate.
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Andy Farrell can name an unchanged starting XV after Calvin Nash recovered sufficiently from his head injury departure last week v England. However, he the coach is not keen to repeat the issues presented by only having two back among the subs last week, and so the 5-3 split returns along with Harry Byrne and Garry Ringrose.
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Scotland boss Townsend brings Stafford McDowall in to inside-centre, while Ben White returns at scrum-half.
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IRELAND Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
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Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Harry Byrne, Garry Ringrose
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SCOTLAND Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
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Replacements:Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Rowe.
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It wasn’t meant to be this way for Ireland. This second installment of Super Saturday 2024 was due to be the final waypoint to a Grand Slam delivered on the weekend of their national patron saint’s day. Instead, they have the disappointment of needing just a bonus point to win the Championship; which is quite the clanging sentence isn’t it?
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Similar to the barnstorming England teams of 2000 and 2001, “just” winning the Championship does feel like below par for Andy Farrell’s men given they were so clearly the best side in Europe coming in. They will desperately want to demonstrably reassert that status today in front of the home crowd.
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While the mood music since the World Cup has not been as bright for Scotland, this is not how they saw the tournament panning out either. They can technically still win the thing with a victory and a favourable result in Paris later, but Gregor Townsend and his team will know that they should be playing for a Slam as well. Winning positions left to float away against Italy and France must shroud this squad like a stinking miasma of regret. The challenge will be dispersing enough of it to sniff out a win in Dublin.
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I’m sure they’ll both be up for it when the whistle blows, mind you.
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important events
4 minutes They started methodically on both flanks, each making a few carry-ups before sending the ball out with the boots of their scrum-halfs. Rinse and repeat.
There is a slight change as Ireland spins to Lowe and his kick is charged down by Christie who storms off the line with a block.
2 minutes The Gibson Park box kicks the ball away but can only find Russell, let alone take a touch. The Scotland captain wasted no time passing the ball to Van der Merwe, who ran in before Sheehan powered the ball over to earn Ireland a penalty.
kick off!
Finn Russell kicks the ball deep into Ireland’s half to take the lead.
Peter O’Mahony is very tearful during ‘The Call of Ireland’. Maybe he will announce his retirement?
Tadhg Beirne was the first to emerge from the tunnel to a standing ovation as he celebrated his 50th cap for Ireland. As soon as both teams emerge on a foggy evening in Dublin, the rain is expected to get heavier as the match progresses.
Ireland team changes delayed
Hugo Keenan was injured late on and Jordan Larmour took his place at full-back.
This could be important as Keenan is often the glue that holds Ireland’s best performances together. Larmour is a nifty player but nowhere near the class of his Leinster team-mates.
There has been a lot of talk this week about Ireland’s chances of winning with bonus points despite having fewer wins than England. Learn more about.
Depending on the result, there may be many permutations. What do you think is going on?Please let us know by email or post @Bloodandmud
team
Andy Farrell will be able to name an unchanged starting XV, with Calvin Nash fully recovered from his absence due to a head injury sustained in last week’s game against England. However, the coach was unwilling to repeat the problems caused by only two of last week’s substitutes returning, so a 5-3 split was returned with Harry Byrne and Garry Ringrose.
Scotland manager Townsend has introduced Stafford McDowall to the inside center position, with Ben White returning to scrum-half.
Ireland Hugo Keenan. Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundy Aki, James Lowe. Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson Park. Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tajig Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tajig Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Vlier, Caelan Doris.
Replacement: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Harry Byrne, Gary Ringrose
Scotland Blair Kinghorn. Kyle Stein, Hugh Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe. Finn Russell, Ben White. Pierre Schumann, George Turner, Xander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacement:Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Elliott Miller-Mills, Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Lowe.
preamble
For Ireland, it wasn’t meant to be this way. The second edition of Super Saturday 2024 was supposed to be the last stop on the road to the Grand Slam, which takes place on the country’s patron saint weekend. Instead, they feel disappointed that all they need to win the championship is a bonus point. This is a pretty tough sentence, isn’t it?
Similar to the onslaught of England teams in 2000 and 2001, for Andy Farrell’s side, ‘just winning’ the Championship meant they came in as clearly the best team in Europe. It feels like it’s below standard. They will be desperate to reassert that status in today’s match. In front of the home crowd.
The mood music hasn’t been all that upbeat for Scotland since the World Cup, but neither has the way the competition has played out. Technically, they still have a chance of winning if they win and do well in Paris afterwards, but Gregor Townsend and his team know they should also be playing in the Slams. Dew. The lack of success in the standings after matches against Italy and France must be hanging over this team like a foul-smelling miasma of regret. The challenge will be to disperse enough to sniff out a win in Dublin.
I’m sure both of them will do their best when the whistle blows.
