Ireland stand pat with title on line
Win or draw against Scotland in Dublin would retain crown
Defending champions Ireland are unchanged after the loss to England for their Six Nations title shot against Scotland tomorrow at Lansdowne Road.
The Irish will clinch successive titles with a win or draw against Scotland, who have a mathematical chance at the title.
The same Ireland run-on side was picked on Thursday with wing Calvin Nash passed fit after a head injury knocked him out of the 23-22 loss to England at Twickenham last weekend.
Replacement back Ciaran Frawley’s own head injury didn’t see him return. He was replaced in the reserves by Garry Ringrose, the World Cup center who suffered a shoulder injury in January that prevented him from playing until two weeks ago.
The head injuries put Ireland in trouble against England as they have only two back reserves. Scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-park ended up playing on the wing. This week, coach Andy Farrell restored a third back in the reserves by dropping lock Iain Henderson for flyhalf Harry Byrne.
Scotland, coming off their own unexpected defeat in Italy, have reacted by bringing in one-cap inside center Stafford Mcdowall. His only previous test was last July against Italy. He’s scored three tries in the past month for Glasgow.
Mcdowall will pair in midfield with clubmate Huw Jones. Cameron Redpath, a Bath clubmate of flyhalf Finn Russell, appears to be the only scapegoat of the 31-29 loss to Italy in Rome.
“We feel Staff has earned an opportunity with how he’s played for Glasgow, and during the Six Nation, and also how he’s trained,” coach Gregor Townsend said. ”With Cam going well off the bench we know he can make an impact. We feel it’s a really good game for Staff to start for us.”
Ben White returned at scrumhalf after being rested for the Italy loss.
The pack is the same, and the reserves have gone back to a 5-3 split. Former capain Jamie Ritchie lost his place to Redpath, and France-based loosehead prop Rory Sutherlands makes his first appearance in this championship.
Scotland imploded after leading Italy 22-10 after 35 minutes in Rome.
The Scots could still win the championship but need to end a nine-match losing run against Ireland and rely on other results.
“We’ve showed the best part of ourselves a lot of times in the championship but we’ve also let our concentration slip, and if we do that in the weekend we’re not going to come away with a win,” Townsend said.