Gregor Townsend has shaken up his Scotland side, with three changes to his team as they prepare to face Ireland at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Glasgow Warriors’ versatile back Tom Jordan comes in at 12, replacing club team-mate Stafford McDowall. In the scrum, Rory Sutherland replaces Pierre Schoeman, while the now fully fit Jack Dempsey comes in at number eight, with Matt Fagerson shifting to the blindside.
McDowall, Schoeman, and Jamie Ritchie drop to the bench, which now has a 6-2 split between forwards and backs. Sam Skinner, only recently called up to the squad, is also among the replacements, while Jamie Dobie nudges out George Horne and Kyle Rowe.
Scotland have won just one of their past fifteen meetings with Ireland. Peter O’Mahony, so often the pantomime villain in those games, has been recalled by Ireland coach Simon Easterby for his first start since last summer.
Analysis
Talking in midweek, former Scotland captain Fraser Brown advocated for both Jordan and Sutherland to start. While McDowall — who made his first Six Nations start last year against Ireland — performed well last week, Brown argued that Jordan’s skillset is perhaps a closer match to the injured Sione Tuipulotu’s.
Sutherland might not have been expecting to start over Schoeman, but the scrum did wobble ever so slightly against Italy last week. Townsend won’t be taking any chances in that department, hence the Test Lion’s inclusion. With Jack Dempsey fit enough to start, there’s still plenty of carrying heft in the Scotland pack, with Schoeman able to add more off the bench.
The backline does look strong, but is that a pack that can go toe-to-toe with Ireland? Rory Darge is monstrous when he’s on song and he’ll need his form to continue from last week. Both Fagerson and Dempsey will need to punch massive holes in the Irish defence. Jonny Gray looked sluggish last week, but the mobile, aggressive Sam Skinner has come in from the cold and will presumably enter the fray near the hour mark.
Once it was England, now Ireland is Scotland’s bogey side, and they love to lord it over the Scots, too. This is a tantalising, tournament-defining clash for both sides — and if there is any time to catch the Irish off-guard, it is now. Time, more than ever, to deliver that elusive 80-minute performance.
The match kicks off at Murrayfield at 3 pm on Sunday 9 February.
Scotland
Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-captain), Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge (co-captain), Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Sam Skinner, Gregor Brown, Jamie Ritchie, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall.
Ireland
Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Tom Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.
“Finn Russell 2017” by www.davidmolloyphotography.com from Sydney, Australia is licensed under CC BY 2.0.