Following an eventful second Saturday of the Guinness Men's Six Nations, Ireland and Scotland are the only teams with their Grand Slam hopes still alive as the Celtic rivals prepare to cross swords in Edinburgh (kick-off 3pm).
Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has also made three changes to the team that beat Italy (31-19). Tom Jordan gets the nod in the centre, pairing up with Huw Jones, the scorer of a hat-trick against the Azzurri.
Guinness Men's Six Nations Fixtures/Results
Guinness Men's Six Nations Table
SCOTLAND: Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse); Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh); Finn Russell (Bath) (co-capt), Ben White (Toulon); Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux-Bègles), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) (co-capt), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors).
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD RFC/Leinster); Calvin Nash (Young Munster RFC/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers RFC/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD RFC/Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), James Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD RFC/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary's College RFC/Leinster) (capt).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen FC/Munster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Garry Ringrose (UCD RFC/Leinster).
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Luc Ramos (France)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Pre-Match Quotes: Caelan Doris (Ireland) -
2025 GUINNESS MEN'S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 2:
Sunday, February 9 – SCOTLAND (3rd) v IRELAND (4th), Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 3pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC One/BBC iPlayer/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds/BBC Radio 5 Live/IRFU Live Blog) Opta Facts: Men's Six Nations - Scotland v Ireland Team News: Simon Easterby has made three personnel changes - the last one enforced today following Mack Hansen's hamstring tightness - for his first away match as interim head coach of the Ireland Men's team (sponsored by Vodafone). Caelan Doris will lead the defending champions once again from the back row, with Cian Healy set to become Ireland's most-capped player in Men's Six Nations history should he come off the bench for his 66th Championship appearance, surpassing Brian O'Driscoll (65). Munster's Calvin Nash will make his ninth Test appearance, taking over from Hansen, alongside Hugo Keenan and James Lowe in the back-three. Robbie Henshaw joins Bundee Aki in the centre, with Garry Ringrose given an impact role on the bench. Following his Six Nations debut last week, Sam Prendergast continues in an all-Leinster half-back pairing with Jamison Gibson-Park, the player-of-the-match in the 27-22 bonus point win over England. Finlay Bealham has shaken off an ankle injury to pack down again with Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher in the front row. Tadhg Beirne, the scorer of Ireland's third try against England, reverts to the second row where he partners James Ryan. Peter O'Mahony, the most-capped member of the team with 110 Ireland caps, returns at blindside flanker for the first time since last July's first Test against South Africa. Josh van der Flier and Doris complete the starting XV. The Ireland coaching group have an expecienced bench to utilise, with Dan Sheehan, Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, and Jack Conan the forward reinforcements. Ringrose, Conor Murray, and Jack Crowley are the options behind the scrum. Easterby (pictured below with IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys) said: "Sunday's game presents a significant challenge against a Scotland side that had a very good Autumn Nations Series and have started the Six Nations with a positive win over Italy. "We have taken confidence from the England game, and there are undoubtedly areas for improvement. Selection was a real challenge again which reinforces the competition for places. "As we approach round 2, it's about improvement and building momentum. We know that we will need to start the game strongly and meet their physical challenge."
Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has also made three changes to the team that beat Italy (31-19). Tom Jordan gets the nod in the centre, pairing up with Huw Jones, the scorer of a hat-trick against the Azzurri.
Aside from Jordan's inclusion, the back-line remain unchanged with Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, and Duhan van der Merwe making up the back-three. Co-captain Finn Russell and Ben White continue their half-back partnership.
Former Ulster prop Rory Sutherland is preferred to Pierre Schoeman on the loosehead side. Dave Cherry and Zander Fagerson make up the rest of the front row, while locks Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist provide 154 caps' worth of experience.
Matt Fagerson switches to the blindside flank to accommodate number 8 Jack Dempsey's return in an all-Glasgow Warriors back row, with co-captain Rory Darge stationed at openside.
Recent call-up Sam Skinner from Edinburgh is part of a six-two split on the Scottish bench, and is poised to make his first international appearance since last year's Six Nations. Glasgow duo Jamie Dobie and Stafford McDowall are the reserve backs.
Speaking about the three players promoted to the starting line-up, Townsend said: "I think there are similarities with the three of them, which is the real energy that they bring. They're quick players, they are in good form.
"Jack obviously was getting back into full fitness and he's now had three weeks training with us. He's good to go. He's been a starter for us for the last few years.
"I feel Rory has earned it. He brings a lot of speed in his kick-chase, his defence, and his ball-carrying. With Tom, it was great to see him again play like he has done in the 15 jersey for us in November.
"12 was probably his natural position, it was the position he played most of his rugby growing up, so I think all three deserve an opportunity to start."
He added: "Obviously Ireland have won this fixture a number of times but we say this every game, we respect Ireland a lot, admire what they've done over the last few years, but it doesn't stand out as a needle game for us."
We've seen what Scotland have been about over the last number of years, and especially at home there's that extra element. We've prepared accordingly and we're ready for a proper battle. We're looking forward to it. "They obviously attack with quite a bit of width, a bit of flair in there as well. Their counter-attack with the wings and the back-three in general they have. "You've seen some of the tries (Duhan) van der Merwe has scored. Darcy Graham is a massive threat and Blair Kinghorn too, so we'll have our hands full. "The way Finn Russell plays the game, head up, plays what's in front of him. If there's any sort of a disconnection there he'll take it and has eyes in the back-field too. Their attack is very dangerous. "Disappointing for Mack obviously, he's been an integral part of what we've been about over the last number of years, but I think he's made the right call (with his hamstring). "There's a lot of trust in Calvin in how he's been with us over the last number of years but also how he's played for much of this year. It should be quite a seamless transition. "I've known him for quite a while, we played together at 18s and 20s as well, so I have seen his quality the whole way, but probably over the last two years in particular, he has kicked on with Munster and took his opportunity incredibly well this time last year over in France. "There is a lot of confidence, he has trained really well as well over the last number of weeks, so I am looking forward to seeing him."Rory Darge (Scotland) -
Pre-Match Videos - Recent Meetings - 2022: Guinness Men's Six Nations: Ireland 26 Scotland 5, Aviva Stadium 2023: Guinness Men's Six Nations: Scotland 7 Ireland 22, BT Murrayfield; Rugby World Cup Pool B: Ireland 36 Scotland 14, Stade de France, Saint-Denis 2024: Guinness Men's Six Nations: Ireland 17 Scotland 13, Aviva Stadium Support Ireland on www.facebook.com/irishrugby, or search #SCOvIRE and #TeamOfUs on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.It will be really special (to have Sir Chris Hoy there). He's a massive inspiration for his achievements in cycling, but also what he's going through personally is really inspiring too.
"I'm sure the Murrayfield crowd will get behind that and make it an even more special moment (when he delivers the match ball on Sunday afternoon).
"That energy will hopefully be something that we can feed off as players and put into the performance. Ireland are obviously world class, and I think that's the danger when you play them, is they don't necessarily go away.
"They stay at it, and there are so many words you can use to describe their qualities. They're clinical. If you give them those opportunities, they usually take them. "Their breakdown work's world class. We know that it's going to be some challenge to get a result, but rather than focus on that too much, we just have to really bring our focus and attention to what we can do well."