MAITLAND RETURN
add ballast to Ireland’s attack after England shut their carrying game down at source while Kearney’s ability to cover space in the back field is seen as crucial after England exploited Henshaw’s positional uncertainty last weekend. Toner’s unavailability creates a sizeable void at lineout time, with Roux believed to be handed the chief organising responsibilities out of touch. Meanwhile, reports in Scotland claim head coach Gregor Townsend is set to spring a major surprise by dropping Blair Kinghorn for Sean Maitland against Ireland, if the latter passes a fitness test this morning. Kinghorn became the first Scotland player to score a hat-trick in the Six Nations during their 33-20 home win over Italy but Maitland’s greater experience and defensive nous are seen as vital for this Test. Even allowing for 37-times capped Maitland’s proven quality, it would be a surprising selection given Kinghorn is in such a rich run of form
and, at 6ft 5in, has a notable height advantage against his likely opposite number Keith Earls. Jonny Gray may return from injury to the second row with Simon Berghan in at tighthead prop and Glasgow prop D’Arcy Rae among the replacements.
IRELAND (possible): R Kearney; K Earls, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Stockdale; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (capt), T Furlong; Q Roux, J Ryan; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Conan. SCOTLAND (possible): S Hogg; T Seymour, H Jones, S Johnson, S Maitland; F Russell, G Laidlaw (capt); A Dell, S McInally, S Berghan; J Gray, G Gilchrist; S Skinner, J Ritchie, R Wilson.