Max Deegan and Chris Farrell in line to feature against Wales

Caelan Doris will go through the Return To Play protocols for the bulk of this week but Garry Ringrose is definitely out.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will be forced to make at least one change to his starting XV for this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations encounter with Wales. Farrell has a big call to make in midfield while Max Deegan is in line for inclusion in the matchday squad.

Ringrose lasted only 40 minutes of Ireland’s 19-12 win over Scotland, on Saturday, and Farrell stated the Leinster centre had a hand injury. He was pictured with strapping around his thumb after the match. A Monday morning release from the IRFU states:

‘Garry Ringrose has had a procedure on a hand injury and is due to be available for selection ahead of Round 4 of the Championship. Garry will stay connected with the squad as a member of the leadership group.’

Robbie Henshaw looks favourite to step up at outside centre, having replaced Ringrose at half-time, but Chris Farrell and Stuart McCloskey are in the squad and Will Addison can cover outside centre and fullback. Farrell’s ability to cover 12 and 13 could edge it and see him on the replacements bench for the visit of the Grand Slam champions.

As for the Irish back row, Farrell will be sorely tempted to go with Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander. Caelan Doris lasted only five minutes of his Test debut before an accidental clash of heads with Scotland’s Adam Hastings left him concussed and ended his participation. Post-match, Farrell commented:

“He’s up and talking, he’s there with his family now in the changing room. We’ve just presented a cap to him and he’s in fine spirits. It was unfortunate for him, it was just an accident, head-on-head.

“He had a great steal early doors. He’ll lick his wounds and he’ll be back.”

Doris will undergo Return To Play protocols in the early part of this week. Farrell named his Irish matchday squad, for Scotland, last Tuesday and would like to do likewise for the Welsh game.

Doris will not get the official green-light to feature against Wales until later in the week so it makes Farrell’s back row selections tricky. He may well elevate Deegan to his squad and have him covering all three positions in the back row.

Elsewhere, Conor Murray should stave off the challenge of John Cooney for another game. Cooney’s high-tempo, smart-kicking appearance off the bench may well have convinced management that he is best suited, for now, as a finisher. Dave Kilcoyne shipped a hefty, concussive blow too so Jack McGrath could feature on the replacements bench.

Possible Ireland vs. Wales

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Andrew Conway
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Rob Herring
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. James Ryan
5. Iain Henderson
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander

Replacements: Kelleher, McGrath, Porter, Toner, Deegan, Cooney, Byrne, Farrell.

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Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble are joined by Jerry Flannery, Eddie O’Sullivan and Ali Miller in Reardens, Cork as House of Rugby sets its sights on the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.

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