Now we’re into the tick of it and no turning back.
Ireland play Wales this Friday at the Principality [Millennium] Stadium in Cardiff and will hope to hand Rob Howley’s me n their third defeat of the championship while keeping their own hopes alive.
The Friday evening kick-off, and Six Nation diktats, mean Joe Schmidt will name his 23-man squad for the game at Carton House tomorrow.
We are expecting the exact same starting 15 that lined out in the 19-9 win over France. That means starts for relatively new units such as the back row – CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip – and midfield – Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw.
Jared Payne was expected to challenge Ringrose for the 13 jersey but his cause was not helped by sitting out training on Monday, following an 80-minute stint for Ulster last Friday. Payne could yet take up the final bench spot and will vye with Tommy Bowe and Craig Gilroy for it.
Our inkling is that Gilroy edges his fellow Ulster teammates, with tomorrow morning’s training run the ultimate decider.
Elsewhere, it is a settled matchday squad that will be led by Rory Best and with the halfbacks of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton the marked men, but also men in form.
EXPECTED IRELAND TEAM
15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Simon Zebo
10. Johnny Sexton
9 Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (c)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. CJ Stander
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: N Scannell, Healy, J Ryan, Henderson, O’Mahony, Marmion, Jackson. Gilroy/Payne.
