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1st February 2017
07:58pm GMT
Joe Schmidt is expected to stick with the majority of the Irish players that saw off the Australians [and a fair few that beat New Zealand] for this weekend's game against Scotland.
Injuries to Peter O'Mahony, Johnny Sexton and Andrew Conway disrupted Schmidt's squad plans ahead of the 2017 opener against the Scots at Murrayfield. It now seems as if Andrew Trimble will not be risk after sitting out training earlier in the week. Paddy Jackson is the next man in for the injured Sexton while Keith Earls has proved his fitness and is seen as the live option to start on the right wing.
As expected, Garry Ringrose will start at outside centre and in midfield with Leinster teammate Robbie Henshaw.
Schmidt's big selection calls are in the second and the back row. With one eye on the following weekend's tie away to Italy, the Kiwi is likely to go with Josh van der Flier as openside and Donnacha Ryan at lock.
Sean O'Brien is back in full training but there is a reticence to pitch him in from the start after a month on the sidelines. Ryan should bump out Iain Henderson but the Ulster forward may well start in Rome the following week.
The official team announcement is expected at 1:30pm on Thursday afternoon.
IRELAND'S EXPECTED XV
15. R Kearney
14. Earls
13. Ringrose
12. Henshaw
11. Zebo
10. Jackson
9 Murray
1. McGrath
2. Best (c)
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Stander
7. Van der Flier
8. HeaslipExplore more on these topics:
