Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made two changes to his starting team to face Scotland, for their closing match of the Rugby World Cup pool stages. This match is a milestone occasion for back-rower Peter O’Mahony, as the Munster stalwart makes his 100th Ireland appearence.
O’Mahony becomes the 10th player to make a century of caps for Ireland, joining the exclusive club with Rugby World Cup teammates Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and Keith Earls. Sexton sets a record of his own, in becoming the Ireland player with the most test match caps against Scotland, with 16.
Farrell’s two changes sees previous test match captain Iain Henderson come into the second row for James Ryan, and Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan starts at hooker for Ronan Kelleher. Saturday’s late kick off takes centre stage at the Stade de France, for a hotly anticipated ‘Home Nations’ clash, that will decide Scotland’s Rugby World Cup fate.
Elsewhere in the squad, Jack Conan is fit to take his place on the bench and could make his first appearance of the tournament. The long standing centre partnership of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose lead the midfield for their 24th test together.
On the bench, scrum half Murray is anticipating a record of his own. Should he come off the bench, the halfback will become the most-capped Ireland player at the Rugby World Cup, with 17 appearances. Should Ireland win in Paris, they will eliminate Gregor Townsend’s side from the competition.
IRELAND TEAM TO PLAY SCOTLAND – 2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (C)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. Iain Henderson
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
Replacements:
16 Ronan Kelleher
17 Dave Kilcoyne
18 Finlay Bealham
19 James Ryan
20 Jack Conan
21 Conor Murray
22 Jack Crowley
23 Stuart McCloskey