Whoever wins this one will be well set for a run at the title, and possibly a Grand Slam.
Not many changes expected for Andy Farrell’s Ireland team, but some new faces could come in to the match-day squad.
Barring any draws, the Six Nations opening weekend usually ends the Grand Slam hopes of three sides. That happened for England, Wales and Italy, last weekend. By Saturday evening there will be two, at most, nations still chasing the slam.
Scotland will seek to prove a point about their away form in the championship when they travel to Cardiff to take on Wales. Following that game, we have Ireland taking on pre-tournament favourites France in Paris.
It is too early to rule out England and Wales, but whoever wins at the Stade de France will be well placed heading into the mini break before battles recommences at the end of the month. Ireland could freshen up their starting XV, especially now that two key players are cleared to play.
Andrew Conway of Ireland, second from left, celebrates with teammates Jamison Gibson Park, second from right, and Hugo Keenan. (Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile)Possible changes to Ireland team to face France
The team Andy Farrell selected to face Wales, last week, had 13 of the 15 players we would have gone for. Robbie Henshaw was ruled out as he was not fully fit, so we would have gone Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose in the centre, too.
The Farrell call that surprised most was Mack Hansen coming in for his Test debut in the No.11 jersey. Once it became apparent that Keith Earls was carrying a knock, it was not such a shock.
Hansen leap-frogged Jordan Larmour and Robert Baloucoune to start, and justified the call with an excellent debut outing in a 29-7 win. The Connacht winger has earned another start on the left wing, where he should face off against the brilliant Damian Penaud.
Henshaw is back and training fully with the squad. Depending on how he gets on in the few sessions he has to impress, Farrell could see him as the safer option in Paris, leaving Ringrose out. That could still happen, but we are sticking with Aki-Ringrose and popping Henshaw in with the replacements.
The other fit again squad member is another Lion – Iain Henderson. If Farrell wants more ballast to his scrum, Tadhg Beirne could miss out. However, we expect him to begin the match on the bench. That is how we would have it, too.
We are otherwise unchanged. Farrell will announce his Ireland match-day squad at lunchtime on Thursday.
Our Ireland team to face France
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Andrew Conway
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. Mack Hansen
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Jamison Gibson-Park1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. James Ryan
6. Caelan Doris
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
Subs: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Robbie Henshaw.
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