Mack Hansen, Jack Conan and Iain Henderson have been restored to the Irish starting XV for Saturday's concluding Guinness 2022 Six Nations game against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 4.45pm, live on Virgin Media 1 and ITV).
In addition to those three changes, Kieran Treadwell has been restored to the bench after marking his return following an absence of over four years with a try against Italy, while Peter O’Mahony reverts to the replacements in an otherwise unaltered matchday 23.
After hitting the ground running with Connacht, the 23-year-old Hansen made an impressive Test debut on the left wing in Ireland’s opening Six Nations game against Wales on the left wing, and remained there for the second round match in the Stade de France when he scored a brilliantly opportunist first try in international rugby.
He was then moved to the right wing for the Italian game when James Lowe was restored and, it transpired, Andrew Conway had been ruled out with a bruised knee. Conway was then restored for last week’s 32-15 win over England in Twickenham but now Hansen is back on the right wing again for his fourth cap, as Conway is again “being managed for a knee niggle”.
It was always anticipated that Henderson would continue in the secondrow after coming on in the second minute of Ireland’s 32-15 win at Twickenham last week as a replacement for the concussed James Ryan, who was ruled out of this tilt at a Triple Crown as a result.
Andy Farrell singled out Conan after he made a telling try-scoring impact in the last quarter at Twickenham after replacing O’Mahony, as Ireland reverted to the starting backrow for the first two games against Wales and France. With Conan now restored, Farrell and his assistant coaches have thus reverted to that all-Leinster loose forward trio.
Not surprisingly, they have also made a statement of faith in the starting frontrow at Twickenham, and after their feedback from World Rugby indicated several of the six scrum penalties Ireland conceded were erroneous decisions by referee Mathieu Raynal.
In what was likely to have been another close call Bundee Aki has retained his place at inside centre alongside Garry Ringrose despite the big impact made by Robbie Henshaw after replacing his one-time Connacht midfield partner in the 66th minute at Twickenham.
However, while Henshaw has been troubled by injuries in a restricted campaign this season, effectively whenever Aki has been fully fit he has been selected to start, against both Japan and New Zealand in November, against Wales, France and England, and now again on Saturday.
Johnny Sexton will become Ireland’s joint sixth most capped player, equalling John Hayes’s cap tally for Ireland (105) when he leads the side out on Saturday afternoon.
On Hansen’s recall, Farrell praised the Connacht winger. “A guy comes in that hasn’t got much international experience at all, to be able to learn, hit the ground running, to get the systems, how we want to play, and be himself is tricky. But he’s managed it seamlessly.
“He’s obviously played the first three games and had a week to sit out and take a breath and the pressure has been off. I’m sure he’s reflected, and you can see that reflection week has been good for him. He’s been great in training this week.”
Henderson, short of game time this season, conceded three penalties in a mixed performance after replacing Ryan in the second minute, and Farrell said Henderson will have learned from last week.
“Iain hasn’t played much rugby at all this year, but it stood to him that he went back to Ulster and got 80 minutes under his belt. He wasn’t expecting to get on so soon in the game [at Twickenham], for that reason alone I thought he did really well to dig in for nearly 80 minutes. Like a few other players there are work-ons there, and that sharpens the mind for the game ahead.”
With a Triple Crown, only Ireland’s 12th in history, on offer this Saturday, Farrell said: “We have out ourselves in a position to do that, which is nice, but as you would expect me to say, this is just about this game and getting the preparation right and we have a couple of days left to make sure that we are at our best.
“We are under no illusions that Scotland will be at their best, they have nothing to lose. They are a great side coming to the Aviva trying to spoil a little bit of a party but how do you manage that? You get across your preparation and make sure that you take your learnings and hopefully go out there and bring our best performance of the tournament.”
Asked if the demotion of Finn Russell surprised him or will change Ireland’s approach, the Irish head coach said:
“No, it doesn’t. Surprised? Yes and no. I mean, I think everyone was expecting Finn to play, he’s a great player, but I watched the Connacht game and Blair [Kinghorn] was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.
“We know him well, we know his strengths. He’s very dangerous with the ball in hand. He takes the ball on, is very dangerous counterattack wise, good passing game, good kicking game as well, and it’s a big game for him obviously. Gregor’s had a look at him and picked on form because his last game for Edinburgh was outstanding.”
Ireland are still in the title mix, but in addition to beating Scotland would need France to slip up at home to England, although Farrell isn’t thinking ahead to the ensuing kick-off in Paris (8pm Irish time).
“No, never even thought of it. It’s just about us making sure we start well, making sure we take each moment at a time, and making sure we play our game.”
Farrell also intimated that World Rugby admitted some of the scrum penalties conceded last week were incorrect.
“Yes, good learnings all round for us and for the officials so we are happy with the feedback that we got,” said the Irish coach with a wry grin.
Ireland have used 32 players in this championship, with Henderson the 23rd to feature in a starting line-up, and Farrell maintained that the likes of Robert Baloucoune, Gavin Coombes and Nick Timoney will all still benefit from the experience of being camp.
Ditto the 20-year-old Leinster academy lock Joe McCarthy, who trained with the squad for three days this week after just four games for his province.
“He’s an impressive young man. He’s got big legs for a start,” noted Farrell. “I’ve been very impressed. If young lads are struggling, then obviously we go to them and help them as much as we can. But sometimes I like to sit back and see how they go about their business because it’s daunting coming into an international camp and trying to be yourself.
“Joe, I was very impressed. He was getting around everyone, trying to get up to speed with the plays, calls, how we do things. He wanted to learn, he was like a sponge and he had two days of that, then we had a big session on Wednesday. He was outstanding within that session.
“That’s what we want to see, people taking an opportunity and using it and using that for the future as well.”
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Johnny Sexton (Leinster, capt), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Iain Henderson (Ulster); Caelan Doris (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Joey Carbery (Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster).
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
ARs: Karl Dickson (RFU) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)
