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Ireland ring changes for Six Nations clash with Wales

Scotland v Ireland – Guinness Men’s Six Nations – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has rung the changes as he named his team to face Wales in Round 3 of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday.

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Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland for the first time. The 26-year-old is set for his first Test start since tearing his ACL last summer, following brief appearances in Ireland’s recent wins over England and Scotland. With Ronan Kelleher and regular skipper Caelan Doris both injured, interim boss Simon Easterby has made seven changes from the side that beat Scotland, aiming to keep the reigning champions on track for a third consecutive title and the Triple Crown.

Jamie Osborne will make his first Six Nations appearance at full-back, with Gus McCarthy and Cian Prendergast also in contention for their Championship debuts from the replacements.

Osborne joins James Lowe and Mack Hansen in the back three. Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose form the midfield, while Sam Prendergast partners Jamison Gibson-Park at half-back.

Andrew Porter, Sheehan and Thomas Clarkson make up the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne in the second row.

Clarkson makes his first Six Nations start, while loosehead Jack Boyle is in line for his debut off the bench.

Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, and Jack Conan complete the back row.

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Fixture
Six Nations
Wales
18 - 27
Full-time
Ireland
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The replacements are Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Cian Prendergast, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and Bundee Aki.

“Playing Wales in Cardiff is one of the great tests and we know the challenge that awaits us. With a new coaching set-up in place, Wales will be re-energised and determined to impress in front of a vocal home support,” said Easterby.

“There will also be a huge Irish travelling support which, when added to the closed roof and the great respect and rivalry between the two nations, will add to an electric atmosphere.

“We have made a few changes to the squad this week, some of which were enforced, and we’re confident that the 23 we have selected are primed and ready to go. Dan Sheehan’s selection as captain is recognition of his high standing within the squad, both on and off the pitch. I have no doubt that he will relish the opportunity to lead Ireland for the first time.

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“Equally, I would also like to congratulate Jack Boyle on his inclusion in the Match Day Squad for the first time. Jack has impressed for his province, Leinster, and in the national training camps over the last number of months and he is a young forward with a bright future.”

Ireland team: 15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. James Lowe, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan.

Replacements: 16. Gus McCarthy, 17. Jack Boyle, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. James Ryan, 20. Cian Prendergast, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Jack Crowley, 23. Bundee Aki.

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Comments

2 Comments
C
Cantab 34 days ago

Ireland taking the chance to rest top liners and give other squad members a run. Wales not up to form of teams past so should be comfortably held.

M
Mzilikazi 34 days ago

I will watch Clarkson and Boyle with interest. Good to see both getting the game time. Am disappointed Crowley is not getting the start this time. I don’t think it good policy not to give him this chance to get more game time. I’m still not fully convinced that Sam Prendergast is the answer in a tough game, where his pack is not going well. That could be the case with France.


Would like to have seen Bundi ,or Henshaw rested, and give McCloskey a game. He is the best backup should Bundi not be fit for either of the next two games. Played a pivotal role in setting up the chance for that final winning drop goal in South Africa.


Would also like to see Coombes given a chance, probably over Cian Prendergast for this game.

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EllenMoody 2 hours ago
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J
JWH 4 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Do you hear yourself? Do you have any concept of world view? Have you tried looking into why people call Ireland ‘arrogant’? Obviously not.


We started calling you arrogant when you called our captain a ‘shit Richie McCaw’. In New Zealand. On our turf. Don’t think that kind of behaviour really calls for respect, does it.


NZ don’t really talk ourselves up, if anything the rugby does it for us. No kiwi goes in the media and says: ‘We are gonna win the RWC’. However, I have found many instance of IRISH media saying that the Irish should win, without a doubt. THAT is disrespectful.


The All Blacks have played good rugby, even some of the best rugby ever, at many points in history, but I don’t think you could find a single instance of one of those players, or the NZ media, saying that they should whitewash their opponents. Ever.


Now, onto your analysis. Ireland DID choke the QF. They beat the champions, they were ranked first coming into it, a lot of players at the peaks of their powers. Its hard to say that they didn’t choke. Obviously, their preparation was just not as good as NZ, and thats all there really is to it.


If Ireland had repsected that ABs team and that QF more, maybe they would’ve prepared properly for it and won. But they didn’t.


Maybe if Ireland had won their QF last RWC, they wouldn’t have to be in the same pool as SA and Scotland. I mean, its called a draw for a reason. NZ got third last RWC, so of course they should get a reasonable pool, and they were ranked pretty highly too. If you want to talk about easy pools, look no further than Pool 3 with England, Australia, Fiji, and Georgia I think?


Now, obviously you don’t remember how that QF ended, so I’ll go ahead and rectify that. Ireland reclaimed the ball off kickoff and marched for 20ish phases into the opposition half. Savea then won a turnover, but the referee refused to give it, so play went on. Finally, at the NZ 22, after not giving up a single penatly in 25 phases of hard defense, Sam Whitelock, the most capped All Black of all time, wins the game with an incredible steal.


Now, NZ players having a go at Ireland. Do you cry when you get hit after making the first swing? We all know Sexton is a prick on the field, its just the truth. And Ioane never backs down from a clash, so he thought he should humble a player who has never won an international knockout game who thought he was all that. Don’t really see the issue, its poetic justice really.

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