It appears that Andy Farrell is likely to keep the same starting XV for the final Six Nations match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday, with kick-off planned for 4.45 pm. The signs suggest that the Irish coaching staff, led by Farrell, may switch back to a 5-3 split on the substitutes’ bench to make room for a specialist outhalf, in the form of Harry Byrne, and make room for a returning Garry Ringrose.
Peter O’Mahony, a consistent team leader, is assumed to captain the squad once again, while Conor Murray is set to continue his role as the substitute scrumhalf.
If Farrell sticks with the same team that began the match at Twickenham, it seems likely that Ryan Baird, in his role as specialist blindside flanker since the World Cup, may remain to cover for the secondrow. This could potentially cost Iain Henderson, who was on the substitutes’ bench for the matches against Italy and England, his place in the squad of 23, a fate he also met in the France and Wales games.
Even though Calvin Nash and his substitute, Ciarán Frawley, both had to leave the field in Twickenham at the start of each half for head injury assessments (HIAs) and were unable to return, it appears that Nash was training alongside the rest of the squad last Tuesday while Frawley returned to Leinster. After passing his subsequent HIAs, Nash, a right wing from Munster, is suspected to be fit enough to play and may maintain his place on the squad. He has had a successful tournament, scoring for Ireland in their victory against France and Italy, and assisting James Lowe with a try against Wales. However, his play was cut short in Twickenham after he collapsed while trying to tackle English winger Tommy Freeman.
Defensive coach Simon Easterby hinted on Tuesday that if Nash cannot play, then Jordan Larmour, a more specialist winger, could get a promotion instead of Ringrose, even though Ringrose has previously covered on the wing for Leinster and has trained in this position for Ireland.
It appears that for the first time in this championship, Ringrose is likely to be included in the match-day squad. Given that he was sidelined for the third Test in New Zealand and the concluding match of the previous season’s Grand Slam against England, this would be a welcome turn of events for him.
Ringrose had to sit out the first three matches for this Six Nations due to a shoulder injury he picked up during Leinster’s Champions Cup victory against Leicester. His inclusion now would mark his first game in eight weeks. Last week’s 6-2 split seemed to limit Ireland’s backup options for the backline, particularly after an early injury, and seemed to relegate Ringrose to just handing out water bottles in Twickenham.
If Ringrose does indeed take to the field against Scotland, he will be the 32nd player Ireland has incorporated in this Six Nations.
Harry Byrne, the younger Byrne sibling, did have a stint in the round two victory over Italy, managing a late conversion kick. Since Frawley returned to Leinster last week, were he to be declared unfit to play, Byrne would be the subsequent choice as both a goalkicker and outhalf. Ringrose could then provide additional cover in the midfield and as a winger, while Nash (or potentially Larmour) could step in as fullback in a more balanced 5-3 split.
After the narrow 23-22 defeat against England in Twickenham last week, it seems that any changes to the team will remain minor. Farrell complimented England’s efforts and reminded everyone that Ireland still has the opportunity to win the championship back-to-back.
Easterby and the rest of the players echoed this sentiment on Tuesday. Easterby advised that the management don’t plan on making drastic changes simply as a result of Ireland’s second loss in 22 matches and that being with the final play.
The disappointment of last Saturday aside, this team could become only the third Irish squad to successfully retain the championship, thereby matching the consecutive wins of the 1948/49 and 2014/15 teams.
In a potential lineup against Scotland, Ireland may field Keenan, Nash, Henshaw, Aki, and Lowe; along with Crowley, Gibson-Park; and forwards Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; McCarthy, and Beirne. O’Mahony, who could be the skipper for this encounter, is joined by van der Flier, and Doris. The substitutions might include Kelleher, Healy, Bealham, Baird, Murray, Byrne and Ringrose.