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Four changes for Ireland including fresh set of half-backs

12 Feb 2021

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Andy Farrell has made four changes to his Ireland team to play France on Sunday in Dublin in round two of the Guinness Six Nations following last Sunday’s 16-21 opening round defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

Peter O’Mahony’s three-match suspension for his red card against the Welsh meant a change would be needed at blindside, but the inclusion of Rhys Ruddock for his first Test start since October 2019 – and a first Six Nations start at the age of 30 – hasn’t been the only alteration to Farrell’s line-up as there are new half-backs and a new captain at second row.

Concussion return to play protocols have ruled out skipper Johnny Sexton and James Ryan. Billy Burns comes in out-half with Iain Henderson starting at lock and taking over the captaincy from Sexton.

Johnny Sexton gives the latest update from the Ireland camp

The fourth change sees Conor Murray drop out at scrum-half due to a hamstring injury picked at training. His spot goes to Jamison Gibson-Park with the uncapped Craig Casey providing cover on the bench.

Other changes in the replacements see Ed Byrne promoted as back-up loosehead in preference to Dave Kilcoyne, Ultan Dillane takes over from the starting Henderson and Ross Byrne will cover the bench spot vacated by new No10 Burns whose single previous start in his four-cap Test career came against Georgia last November.

IRELAND (vs France, Sunday)
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
14. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 89 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 48 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 3 caps
10. Billy Burns (Ulster) 4 caps
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 6 caps
1. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 105 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 17 caps
3. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 18 caps
5. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 59 caps CAPTAIN
6. Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 26 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 29 caps
8. CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 47 caps
Replacements
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 7 caps
17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 3 caps
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 45 caps
19. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 17 caps
20. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) 6 caps
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) uncapped
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 25 caps

“I'm pretty saddened and shocked by the inaccurate reports"#SixNations #IREvFRA https://t.co/lVJUIJ5TA4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 10, 2021

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Chiefs Mana 24 minutes ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

Hmm i’ve watched the Chiefs closely for a long time; against the Reds and then the Tahs, we completely went into our shells and basically played 10 man rugby, I assumed it was due to the rain vs Reds but we saw it again against Waratahs. It is actually very different to what we’ve seen from McMillans sides for years, in my recollection. My glass half-full, one-eyed Chiefs nature would like to think it’s in preparation for arm wrestles as the nights get colder and wetter in the pointy end of the season but it’s concerning as was very easy to defend for both those Aussie teams.

Assuming Dmac takes sabbatical next year, Jacomb will be our 10 and with some level of Waikato/Chiefs continuity in the coaches expected (Gibbes or Filipo as head coach), David Hill will continue to be in charge of the backs.

23 Go to comments

Cantab 55 minutes ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

It seems to me that opposition teams have him worked out and know how to isolate and negate his style of play. He appears a little one dimensional and forgets the other players in his team

23 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

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On the opposite side of the back MP, namely JGB (but Toala as well) didn’t choose the right time or place to chip or attack space in behind, unlike last week were JGB put that grubber right we the ball needed to be. Luck?

On that note Barrett’s chip was probably pure luck as well, I mean he chips it whenever theres a line in front of him so it’s not necessarily like any great amount of vision saw that opportunity!

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DH 1 hour ago

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Well now . That didnt go well.…And I’m a Warriors fan

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Bruiser 1 hour ago

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Showboating one thing, niggly s hit in the ruck like untying players laces….nah thats making yourself a target. Leinster wont fall for that nonsense

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DH 1 hour ago

Rugby fans level same reproach at Henry Pollock following Castres game

He is good . Let him be .He may yet get a couple of corners knocked off him , but then again maybe not .It’s fun watching !

11 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

It’s not resorted man, this is the same level of performance weve seen from McMillans sides for years. They’re a hard team that relies on some Dmac or Scooter creativity to long dangerous, not patterns.

I think Jacomb can be a very good 10 for the Chiefs but they are going to need to change the plan completely to suit him. What works well with Dmac is not going to work well for Jacomb, perhaps the exact opposite of Dmac as his strength is being strong with the ball flat at the line while making decisions.

Would hope for a really smart coach in the Lancaster mould to take over the chiefs, or a young guy like O’Gara was coming in as attack coach, and build on the good foundation McMillan’s built. Actually Joe Schmidt might be just the guy!

23 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

Could have just been bad luck of course but I wonder if it’s really got something to do with falling out of mojo with a role you’ve not had for a while.

But in regards to the common facets weve seen many times before already, he tried running and showing some threat on the counter (which we haven’t seen for a long time, since he used to top charts as a through and through fullback) and put himself under pressure numerous times because he just can’t handle contact in todays level of rugby. I actually thought he was bloody luck on a few occasions to get out of jail with possession of the ball still.

23 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

That might be for his extension period? He was already signed for next year of course. It may not have been a sabbatical discussion however, he could have just been a player like JB who they were looking for places (La Rochelle in this case) where they have people/coaches in place who they trust and think can develop their players further.

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TD 1 hour ago

Super Rugby Pacific takes: Cake Tin needs to be demo'd, Australian dominance deserved

Why is it always Wellington that gets smacked around like this? The Blues cant fill Eden Park yet their city boasts nearly 3 times the amount of people. Also, what’s with the weird political swipe? The current right wing govt has taken a buzz saw to govt jobs, has failed to address the cost of living, and overseen a sustain period of economic contraction. Is it any surprise people are pulling on their purse strings and not spending on nice to haves like rugby tickets?

And with all that said, I also agree, the turn out is sad. But there is a mismatch between how much the media thinks this country is rugby mad and the actual reality of rugby fandom in this country. Maybe the powers that be should target families and students with cheaper prices.

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suluzusu 2 hours ago

Rugby fans level same reproach at Henry Pollock following Castres game

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11 Go to comments

suluzusu 2 hours ago

Rugby fans level same reproach at Henry Pollock following Castres game

11 Go to comments

TO 2 hours ago

Rugby fans level same reproach at Henry Pollock following Castres game

Spot on mate. We’ll see how smart he is in Dublin

11 Go to comments