Hat-trick hero axed by Scots
The first Scotland player in 30 years to score a hat-trick of tries in the Six Nations has made way for New Zealand-born wing Sean Maitland in the run-on side facing Ireland at Murrayfield tomorrow.
Blair Kinghorn scored three as Scotland beat Italy 33-20 last weekend in Edinburgh, but played only because Maitland was nursing a hamstring injury.
The British Lion was fit this week, and Kinghorn was dropped to the reserves.
That’s one of five changes, one of them positional, in the
Scottish team named yesterday.
Meanwhile,
Ireland restored fullback Rob
Kearney and summoned centre
Chris Farrell among five changes after being stunned by
England 32-20 last weekend in Dublin.
Kearney was recovered from a quadricep injury. He replaced Robbie Henshaw, who was going to return to centre after Garry Ringrose was ruled out with a tight hamstring, only to suffer a dead leg this week.
That prompted Farrell’s recall for his first test in almost a year, since a man-of-the-match display against Wales. Farrell then tore his ACL in that Six Nations and hurt his thigh on his return in November. This will be his fourth cap.
Lock Devin Toner (ankle), and No 8 CJ Stander (face) were also injured in the England game, and replaced by Quinn Roux and Jack Conan respectively. Flanker Sean O’Brien has made a straight swap out of the reserves with Josh van der Flier.
For Scotland, Willem Nel injured his calf against Italy, and Simon Berghan was in at tighthead prop where he finished against Italy. Berghan will make up an allEdinburgh front row with Allan Dell and hooker Stuart McInally.
Lock Jonny Gray was over a shoulder complaint to displace Ben Toolis.
Sam Skinner limped off against Italy with an ankle injury and replaced at blindside flank by Ryan Wilson, who was moved from No 8 to accommodate Josh Strauss.
Maitland for Kinghorn was the only change in the backline, restoring Scotland’s all-British Lions back three with Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour.
Into the reserves came uncapped Glasgow prop D’arcy Rae, and hooker Fraser Brown and back Peter Horne, both returning from knee injuries.