Scots, Irish crunch tie

EDINBURGH: Coach Gregor Townsend has made one change to the starting Scotland team for today’s Six Nations Test against an unbeaten Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Back-to-back wins over France and England at Murrayfield have earned all but one of the starting XV the opportunity to take their home form on the road, with Glasgow Warriors wing Tommy Seymour an injury-enforced change to the backline, having failed to recover from the back injury sustained in the national team’s Calcutta Cup win.

In-form Edinburgh Rugby back Blair Kinghorn will earn his first start for the national team on the wing in place of Seymour, with Glasgow Warriors wing Lee Jones taking his vacated place on the bench.

Meanwhile, Ireland welcome back prop Tadhg Furlong and are able to call on centre Garry Ringrose for the first time in nine months.

Furlong missed the 37-27 victory over Wales last time out alongside fellow British and Irish Lion forward Iain Henderson. Henderson, although fully fit, was unable to dislodge Devon Toner as coach Joe Schmidt is sticking with the same second row partnership for today’s clash that could move them one step away from a Grand Slam.

After Scotland’s sensational victory over England last time out, Ireland are five points clear of Eddie Jones’ Six Nations champions at the top of the table. Victory over Scotland, who are a point behind England in third, would leave Ireland 80 minutes from a clean sweep and set up a St Patrick’s Day trip to Twickenham to complete what would be only their third Grand Slam.