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Ireland’s Andy Farrell makes three changes to the side to face England in Dublin on Saturday in search of the Six Nations Grand Slam; Robbie Henshaw, Ryan Baird replaced the injured duo of Garry Ringrose, Iain Henderson; Jamison Gibson-Park started over Conor Murray; Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan pass fit
By Michael Cantillon
Last updated: 16/03/23 16:01
Robbie Henshaw has been brought in to start alongside Bundee Aki in the middle – former team-mates at Connacht
Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan are fit to face England for Ireland in the Grand Slam Six Nations clash in Dublin, with Robbie Henshaw, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ryan Baird brought in to start.
Henshaw replaced Garry Ringrose at outside-centre after suffering a serious head injury last Sunday in the win over Scotland at Murrayfield last Sunday, and started alongside former Connacht midfielder Bundee Aki in the centre.
Baird came into the second row alongside James Ryan after Iain Henderson (arm) was ruled out through injury, while Gibson-Park started at scrum-half with Conor Murray moved to the bench.
No 8 Doris (hip) and hook Dan Sheehan (shoulder) both withdrew from Murrayfield on 25 minutes but were fit enough to start Saturday’s Test in a big boost for head coach Andy Farrell.
Caelan Doris was hampered early against Scotland with a hip injury, but was unable to play
Hooker Ronan Kelleher, who also injured his shoulder against Scotland and limped off early in the second half, has failed to recover in time to make the matchday squad, as Ulster’s Rob Herring comes on the bench.
The back-three remain the same for the meeting at the Aviva Stadium, with full-back Hugo Keenan and wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe starting again, while Johnny Sexton captains the side from fly-half for what will be the final six. Nation appearance, and last competitive international outing in Dublin.
Jamison Gibson-Park came in to start at scrum-half, with Conor Murray moving to the bench.
Aside from the addition of Baird, the pack remains the same, with loosehead Andrew Porter, Sheehan and tighthead Tadhg Furlong forming the front line.
Flankers Peter O’Mahony and Josh van der Flier – the latter for his 50th Test cap – formed the back row with Doris.
Ryan Baird started in the second row, with the likes of Tadhg Beirne (ankle) and Iain Henderson (arm) injured.
Among the replacements, Ulster second row Kieran Treadwell made the squad, as did Leinster back Jimmy O’Brien in the No 23 jersey.
Loosehead Cian Healy, tighthead Tom O’Toole, No 8 Jack Conan, and fly-half Ross Byrne are the other players listed in the squad.
Ireland has a chance to make history there, they are trying to win the Grand Slam in Dublin for the first time – before the efforts in 1948 (Belfast), 2009 (Cardiff) and 2018 (Twickenham) came elsewhere, like the Six Nations. title success in 2014 (Paris) and 2015 (Murrayfield).
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris.
Replacement: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jimmy O’Brien.
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