6 Nations
PREVIEW: Ireland Make Three Changes for Welsh Showdown
Ireland have made three changes to their stating line-up for their visit to Wales
Ireland have made three alterations for their final Six Nations game against Wales at the Principality Stadium at 14 45 on Saturday.
The visitors know that a win coupled with anything less than a win for England against Scotland will see them retain their title but will face an unchanged Welsh side searching for a Grand Slam.
Ireland’s front-three remains the same as last week with Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong knuckling down alongside captain Rory Best, who will make his 64th and last Six Nations appearance for Ireland.
Tadhg Beirne replaces Iain Henderson in the second-row to make his debut in the competition, with Henderson dropping out of the 23, while last weekend’s man of the match James Ryan retains his place.
There is one change in the back-row too as Sean O’Brien comes in to replace the injured Josh Van Der Flier. He is joined by Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton line-up in the half-backs once more, with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose outside them in the centre.
Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls continue on the wings, as a fit again Rob Kearney takes the place of Jordan Larmour to complete the XV.
There is a huge amount of strength for the men in green on the bench too with Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Jack Conan, Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty and Larmour all ready to go.
#GuinnessSixNations
Here's the Ireland team for the final round of the @SixNationsRugby Championship.#TeamOfUs #WALvIRE #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/Y1KZDYfb7Y— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 14, 2019
Speaking ahead of the clash head coach Joe Schmidt described Ireland’s unfortunate run of injuries as a positive as he has got to try out other players.
“It’s just a case of slotting people in and as I’ve said all through the Six Nations, it’s been a really positive challenge for us to see if we can mix and match players and still try to get some cohesion,” he said.
The hosts have named an unchanged squad to the one that defeated Scotland 18-11 last Saturday.
That means that it’s Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Tomas Francais in the front-row, with Adam Beard and captain Alun Wyn Jones pairing up behind them in the second-row.
Josh Navidi, Justin Tupuric and Ross Moriarty complete the pack from the back-row.
Gareth Davies is at scrum-half, with Gareth Anscombe at 10. Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies continue in the centre, with Josh Adams and George North on the wings and Liam Williams at 15.
The replacements are Elliot Dee, Dillion
Lewis, Nicky Smith, Jake Ball, Aaron Wainwright, Aled Davies, Dan Biggar and
Owen Watkin.
Head coach Warren Gatland explained that he hasn’t made any changes as he believes these players have earned their place.
“We’ve named an unchanged squad and rewarded the players for the last couple of outings and the last couple of victories. These players are on a very good run, they are a hugely impressive group and they deserve to be going into the final weekend with everything to play for,” he said.
Wales will be looking to seal a grand slam when the reigning champions come to town on Saturday but will face a rejuvenated Irish side holding on to the slim hope of retaining their title.
For both teams it will be their final Six Nations match under their respective coaches with both seeking to end on a high. Especially Schmidt, who is aiming to win his first game against the Welsh in Cardiff on his third and final attempt for Ireland.
The stakes couldn’t be higher heading into the last round of fixtures and with things coming to an end on more than one front it should be a cracker of a game.
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Stuart Hogg will return to the Scotland starting line-up as Captain for the final round of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations against Wales on Saturday 31 October – kick-off 2:15pm.
Fresh from securing the European and Premiership double with his club Exeter Chiefs, Hogg plays at full back as one of five changes to the starting XV from the Scotland side that defeated Georgia 48-7 last week.
Finn Russell lines up at fly-half after winning his 50th Scotland cap in the Georgia victory at BT Murrayfield on Friday night, and is joined in the half-backs by Glasgow Warriors’ Ali Price.
In the back division, Blair Kinghorn shifts to the wing from full-back and replaces Edinburgh teammate Duhan van de Merwe, who is named among the replacements. James Lang and Chris Harris continue their centre partnership after playing together against Georgia.
In the pack fellow Exeter Chief Jonny Gray comes into the second row and Scarlets’ Blade Thomson is selected at number 8 and will run out on his club ground on Saturday in Llanelli.Hooker Fraser Brown is named as Vice-Captain and packs down with Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson in an unchanged front row.
Scott Cummings also retains his starting place to partner Gray in the second row.Edinburgh pair Jamie Ritchie, also a Vice Captain, and Hamish Watson make up the back-row with Thomson.
In the replacements Harlequins scrum-half Scott Steele could make his Scotland debut if called into action.
Adam Hastings and van de Merwe complete the backline replacements. Townsend can also call upon the same front row of Oli Kebble, Stuart McInally and Simon Berghan as featured in against Georgia, alongside Worcester Warrior Cornell du Preez and Edinburgh’s Ben Toolis from the bench.
“As a group we are very much looking forward to finally completing our fixture against Wales and returning to play Guinness Six Nations rugby again. We were highly motivated back in March, and that extra edge has come back into our training and preparations this week.
Scotland Head Coach, Gregor Townsend
“It’s been great to bring in quality and experience to our starting line-up with players such as Stuart, Jonny and Finn who have been involved in some high-level games in recent weeks. We were also encouraged by Blade’s display at the weekend for Scarlets, which is a timely boost given last weekend’s injury to Matt Fagerson.
“We are expecting a physical battle against a very good side, one which we will be working hard to stay in the fight and to finish the fight in Llanelli. Ultimately, this game provides an opportunity for us to end this extended championship on a positive note and go into the Autumn Nations Cup with some added belief in what this group of players can achieve.”
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will become rugby’s most capped international on Saturday when he makes his 149th test appearance (140th for Wales plus 9 British & Irish Lions caps).
Jones levelled the record last weekend but will take the honour for himself at Parc y Scarlets this weekend as Wales face Scotland in their re-arranged Guinness Six Nations finale (14.15 KO BBC & S4C).
At the other end of the international spectrum, Cardiff Blues back-row Shane Lewis-Hughes will make his first test appearance for Wales in a back-row alongside experienced Lions duo Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
Will Rowlands, fresh from the English Premiership Final with Wasps, comes into the side to make his first start for Wales and he packs down alongside captain Jones.
European Champion and English Premiership winner Tomas Francis comes into the front-row alongside Rhys Carre and Ryan Elias.
In the backline Gareth Davies partners Dan Biggar with Owen Watkin coming into the midfield alongside Jonathan Davies.
Liam Williams returns to the back-three to feature alongside Josh Adams and Leigh Halfpenny.
On the bench Sam Parry, Wyn Jones and Dillon Lewis provide the front-row replacements with Cory Hill and James Davies completing the forward contingent. Lloyd Williams comes straight into the matchday squad and provides backline cover along with Rhys Patchell and Nick Tompkins.
Issued by WRU
Issued by Rugby Football Union
Eddie Jones has named his team for England’s key Guinness Six Nations tie against Italy on Saturday [31 October].
Ben Youngs is set to make his 100th cap for his country, at scrum half – becoming the second most capped England men’s player of all time after Jason Leonard (114 caps). Youngs made his senior team debut against Scotland in March 2010, where he came on as a substitute in the Calcutta Cup.
There is also a milestone for hooker Jamie George, who will make his 50th appearance for England this weekend.
Both players will lead England out at the Stadio Olimpico. England need a bonus-point win to put them in contention for winning the tournament, depending on the result in France v Ireland, which follows the game in Rome.
Jonny Hill will make his England debut at lock, while Owen Farrell, starting at fly-half, will captain the side. Henry Slade is at inside centre while Jonathan Joseph returns for England at outside centre.
George Furbank is named at full back with Jonny May and Anthony Watson on the wings.
Kyle Sinckler will play tighthead and Mako Vunipola loosehead in the front row. Maro Itoje completes the tight five.
Sam Underhill is named at open-side flanker with Tom Curry named at blind-side flanker and Billy Vunipola, returning from injury for England for the first time since the Rugby World Cup Final, at No. 8.
Uncapped trio Tom Dunn, Ollie Lawrence and Ollie Thorley are named as finishers, alongside scrum half Dan Robson. Props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart also join the bench with Charlie Ewels and Ben Earl.
Jones said: “We’ve trained with good intensity this week and the squad are excited by the challenge of performing at our best against Italy.
“The team have prepared well and are looking forward to putting on an England shirt and showing what they can do.
“We will also celebrate two major achievements in Ben Youngs and Jamie George’s cap milestones. It’s testimony to their skill, hard work and love of playing for England, and there is more to come from both of them.”
Italy v England is live on ITV 1 and BBC Radio 5 Live (4.45pm GMT KO).
Ireland change it up for Georgia
England name 25 man squad
