Scotland news:
Head Coach Gregor Townsend has made four changes to his starting line-up to face Ireland this Sunday 14 March in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations at BT Murrayfield.
In the pack, prop WP Nel comes in at tighthead and packs down alongside hooker George Turner and loosehead Rory Sutherland.
Jamie Ritchie returns at blindside flanker and complements Hamish Watson and Matt Fagerson in the loose forwards, while Jonny Gray and Scott Cummings continue their second-row partnership for the seventh successive international.
Captain Stuart Hogg and wingers Duhan van der Merwe and the returning Sean Maitland form the back three, with Sam Johnson featuring for the first time in the 2021 championship, joining Chris Harris in the centres. Finn Russell and Ali Price continue the half-back partnership for a third straight game.
Simon Berghan and Jamie Bhatti are named in the replacements alongside second-row Grant Gilchrist and back-row Nick Haining, with all four primed for their first involvement of the year, alongside hooker David Cherry.
Scott Steele, Huw Jones and Darcy Graham represent options in the backs from the bench.
Ahead of the game, Head Coach Gregor Townsend said: “We are well aware of the threats posed by an experienced Ireland squad and our players have prepared for a contest they know is going to require one of their best performances.
“We had prepared well for our postponed game against France, and the players have adapted well to the change of plans and have brought real energy and focus to our training sessions this week.â€?
“Playing Ireland is always a physical affair and one that demands you keep stepping up to make tackles or contest for possession. They have played well in their opening three games of the Championship and have some outstanding players in their squad. It should be a cracking game.�
Ireland team news:
There are three changes to the starting XV from the game against Italy with Keith Earls coming into the back line and Cian Healy and Rob Herring starting up front.
CJ Stander will win his 50th cap when he runs out in green on Sunday afternoon. He made his debut against Wales in 2016 and has notched up 60 points to date for Ireland.
Johnny Sexton captains the side and is again partnered at half-back by Jamison Gibson Park.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose line out in midfield while Earls returns to the back three alongside James Lowe and Hugo Keenan.
Up front Healy and Herring are back in the the front row alongside Tadhg Furlong with James Ryan and Iain Henderson again packing down in the second row.
Tadhg Beirne and Will Connors line out alongside Stander in an unchanged back row.
Conor Murray returns from injury to take a place among the replacements alongside Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Billy Burns and Jordan Larmour.
