Ireland make one change for Six Nations title finale against France
Ireland have made just one change to their XV for Saturday's Guinness Six Nations finale against France in Paris, Robbie Henshaw promoted to the starting line-up in place of the injured Garry Ringrose.
Unlucky No13 Ringrose was left with a broken jaw last Saturday following a 27th-minute collision in the win over Italy and Henshaw, who came off the bench for his provincial colleague in the 50-17 win, will now start at the Stade de France.
Henshaw's promotion from the replacements has resulted in Chris Farrell getting called-up but there is no bench spot for John Cooney, who was called into the training squad at the start of the week due to an injury concern over reserve Jamison Gibson-Park.
The Leinster scrum-half has come right, however, and he will provide the back-up in Paris to Conor Murray on an evening where loosehead Cian Healy becomes only the sixth Ireland player ever to win 100 Test caps.
He joins an exclusive Irish centurion club featuring Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Rory Best, Paul O’Connell and John Hayes.
Ireland currently sit on top of the Six Nations table, a point clear of England and France. They travel knowing that a bonus-point win will guarantee them the title and that a win minus a bonus-point will likely see the destination of the title decided on points difference on a day when rivals England play away to Italy.
IRELAND (vs France, Saturday)
15. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 29
14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 22
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 44
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 27
11. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) 1
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt) 92
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 82
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 99
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 12
3. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 27
4. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 14
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 27
6. Caelan Doris (UCD/Leinster) 3
7. Will Connors (UCD/Leinster) 1
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 42
Replacements:
16. Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht) 2
17. Ed Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 1
18. Finlay Bealham (Galway Corinthians/Connacht) 10
19. Ultan Dillane (Galway Corinthians/Connacht) 16
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 68
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) 1
22. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 7
23. Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 9
Latest Comments
totally agree, Graham is guilty of gross exaggeration, world rankings are an accurate indication of a side's overall capability and Ireland did beat the Boks at home last time they played, which we couldn't. France has been our nemesis too often, and to win 3 in a row is a big ask. I think the ABs need to lose the box kick approach to regain the #1 ranking, but lets see what Razor can do in the next year.
Go to commentsExcellent article and brings us up to date. What about the future though? Leon MacDonald would seem the obvious answer, but who knows with the WRU. Worst Run Union? Probably!
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