Six Nations 2025: Scotland vs Ireland – The Teams
Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to the starting XV for Scotland to face Ireland at the weekend from the side that beat Italy in the opening round.
It seems that the changes have been made with the aim of bringing a bit more grit into the side: in the backs Tom Jordan comes in at 12 to replace Stafford McDowell, while in the pack Rory Sutherland starts at loosehead and Jack Dempsey starts at Number 8.
Pierre Schoeman drops to the bench as do Jamie Ritchie and Stafford McDowell. Also on the bench is new squad call up Sam Skinner as part of a 6:2 split.
Scotland record against Ireland
Opponents Ireland have stuck with the more traditional 5:3 bench. Interim coach Simon Easterby has also named perennial Scotland bugbear and part-time gardening psychopath Peter O’Mahony at blindside. The championship winning skipper for Ireland last year perhaps looked a little off the pace in the autumn but has clearly been brought back for the edge he brings to this particular fixture. Ireland have a definite psychological advantage that Scotland will need to overcome, based on recent encounters where Scotland have not been able to get the win despite some good performances that put them in the right position.
Scotland: B Kinghorn, D Graham, H Jones, T Jordan, D Van der Merwe, F Russell, B White; R Sutherland, D Cherry, Z Fagerson, J Gray, G Gilchrist, M Fagerson, R Darge, J Dempsey.
Replacements: E Ashman, P Schoeman, W Hurd, S Skinner, G Brown, J Ritchie, J Dobie, S McDowall.
Ireland: Keenan, Hansen, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe, Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Bealham, Ryan, Beirne, O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Clarkson, Baird, Conan, Murray, Crowley, Ringrose.
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