This is the Ireland team that needs to start against Scotland

Patrick McCarry

Three changes from the Ireland team that saw off Wales in five-try style last weekend.

Joe Schmidt’s men are three from three in the 2018 Six Nations and next face a Scotland side buoyed by recent wins over France and England.

The knee injury Chris Farrell sustained during Tuesday’s open training session at Lansdowne Road means Ireland will definitely have to make one change. In reality, they will be hoping to make three changes to their starting line-up and each one should make them stronger.

First up is the outside centre call. Had Garry Ringrose been a week closer to full fitness ahead of the Wales game, he may well have started against Wales. Instead, Farrell was entrusted get the job done against the Welsh and that he most certainly did. His man of the match performance had line breaks, turnovers, plenty of rucks hit and front-foot ball won all over the pitch.

Ringrose is likely to jump the queue containing Rory Scannell and Sam Arnold – but, oddly, not Stuart McCloskey or Luke Marshall – and start at 13 against the Scots.

The other two changes are fitness dependent and are in the pack.

Tadhg Furlong and Iain Henderson were at the open training session again but the pair, and Johnny Sexton, had very light trots compared to the rest of the Ireland squad.

Schmidt told reporters, on Tuesday, that both men will be rested up for most of this week before they are looked at for the Monday and Tuesday sessions ahead of the March 10 game against Scotland. It may be tight but both will go straight back into the starting XV if they satisfy the Ireland medical and coaching staff. Keith Earls should also be okay to start on the right wing despite his calf strain.

That leaves the bench, with Andrew Porter and Devin Toner going back to supporting roles and Kieran Marmion spending most of the game watching Conor Murray do this brilliant things.

Our big call is that hotly contested No.23 jersey. Fergus McFadden made two poor errors in his 18-minute appearance against the Welsh so we are going with Scannell. Andrew Conway’s knee issue seems to be more serious than first suspected. Jordan Larmour is another live option and he trained with Ireland on Tuesday too.

OUR IRELAND XV

Rob Kearney

Keith Earls
Garry Ringrose
Bundee Aki
Jacob Stockdale

Johnny Sexton
Conor Murray

Cian Healy
Rory Best (captain)
Tadhg Furlong

Iain Henderson
James Ryan

Peter O’Mahony
Dan Leavy
CJ Stander