Townsend rings changes in bid to end five-match Ireland jinx

Scotland have made four changes to the side which lost to Wales by a point for the visit of Ireland to Murrayfield tomorrow.

Three are the result of players recovering from injury, while veteran tighthead WP Nel replaces Zander Fagerson, who is suspended.

Jamie Ritchie comes in at blindside, while, after having to isolate for a month after coming into contact with people who had tested positive for Covid-19, Sam Johnson makes his first start at inside centre for Scotland this year. Sean Maitland returns to the right wing.

Scotland have lost their last five matches against Ireland but head coach Gregor Townsend said: “We’ve had a good week’s training

and the players are focused. I think we’re likely to have three games in three weeks and they’re up for that.”

The game against France is likely to go ahead on Friday, March 26, if Scotland can negotiate player release.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell believes Jamison Gibson-park is developing into a “top-class international scrum-half ” after selecting him ahead of Conor Murray.

Gibson-park has been handed his third successive Six Nations start, with Murray made to wait on the bench on his return from a twogame injury absence.

The New Zealand-born player will win his ninth cap by continuing his half-back partnership with Leinster team-mate Johnny Sexton. Farrell said: “Conor’s not played for five weeks and Jamison has been playing really well so he deserves his start. He [Gibson-park] has progressed a lot. He’s more comfortable in his role in and around the side.”

The inclusion of Murray is the only personnel change to Farrell’s 23 following the 48-10 win over Italy a fortnight ago. Ireland have made three alterations to their starting XV, bringing back front-row pair Cian Healy and Rob Herring and wing Keith Earls in place of Dave Kilcoyne, Ronan Kelleher and Jordan Larmour, while No 8 CJ Stander will win his 50th cap.