Ireland expected to make four changes and bring Jordan Larmour into squad

Jordan Larmour’s Ireland debut is set to come from the bench.

Joe Schmidt is expected to keep his backline from Paris intact but rest up a few of the players that helped massively in their comeback victory.

Joey Carbery may have to settle for an impact role off the bench, like Larmour, while Kieran Marmion could bump Luke McGrath out as reserve scrumhalf.

The one enforced change sees Dan Leavy replace the injured Josh van der Flier while Jack Conan is in line to get a start, at No.8, with CJ Stander in reserve [as he was last November for the Fiji game].

The other changes in the pack are expected to be tweaks – Jack McGrath for Cian Healy and Devin Toner coming in for James Ryan, who was excellent against France.

Andrew Porter may get his first taste of Six Nations action too, off the bench, despite the strong replacement showing of Munster’s John Ryan last weekend.

IRELAND (Predicted team)

Rob Kearney

Keith Earls
Robbie Henshaw
Bundee Aki
Jacob Stockdale

Johnny Sexton
Conor Murray

Jack McGrath
Rory Best (captain)
Tadhg Furlong

Iain Henderson
Devin Toner

Peter O’Mahony
Dan Leavy
Jack Conan

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, CJ Stander, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour.

The team is announced at Carton House on Thursday afternoon.

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10