We’ll need to keep an eye on Hastings – Sexton
IRELAND captain Johnny Sexton believes Scotland stand-off Adam Hastings possesses a “full bag of tricks” and provides a seamless replacement for the influential Finn Russell.
Stand-off Russell will be a notable absentee for today’s clash in Dublin after being disciplined for breaching team rules following an alleged latenight drinking session.
Glasgow Warriors player Hastings was named on Thursday as Russell’s replacement by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.
Irish fly-half Sexton admits to being unsure of the potential impact of Townsend’s enforced reshuffle but has warned that his team-mates must be attentive to the talents of 23-year-old Hastings.
“It’s like for like, really. When you talk about Finn Russell’s strengths, you’re talking about Adam Hastings’ strengths, they’re all the same,” said Sexton.
“They seem to be happy with where
DUBLIN 4.45pm
IRELAND v SCOTLAND
they’re at and he’s a quality player and one that we are going to have to be fully switched on for because he has a full bag of tricks that he can pull out.” Ireland: J Larmour (Leinster); A Conway Munster), G Ringrose (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht), J Stockdale (Ulster); J Sexton (Leinster, capt), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Herring (Ulster), T Furlong (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Ryan (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster). Reps: R Kelleher (Leinster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), A Porter (Leinster), D Toner (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), J Cooney (Ulster), R Byrne (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster).
Scotland: S Hogg (Exeter, capt); S Maitland (Saracens), H Jones (Glasgow), S Johnson (Glasgow), B Kinghorn (Edinburgh); A Hastings, A Price (both Glasgow); R Sutherland (Edinburgh), F Brown, Z Fagerson, S Cummings, J Gray (all Glasgow), J Ritchie, H Watson, N Haining (all Edinburgh). Reps: S McInally (Edinburgh), A Dell (London Irish), S Berghan (Edinburgh), B Toolis (Edinburgh), C du Preez (Worcester), G Horne (Glasgow), R Hutchinson (Northampton), C Harris (Gloucester).
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France).