Gregor Townsend tinkers with Scotland team to face Ireland after Italy defeat
Gregor Townsend coach manager Scotland during warm up the Guinness Six Nations 2024 tournament match between Italy and Scotland at Stadio Olimpico on March 09, 2024 in Rome, Italy.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named his team to take on Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Townsend has made just two changes to his starting line-up following the 31-29 defeat to Italy in Rome last weekend with both coming in the backline.
Changes in the backline
Last week, Cameron Redpath started at inside centre in place of the injured Sione Tuipulotu, but Townsend has made an alteration in the number 12 jersey once again as Stafford McDowall gets his first taste of Six Nations action.
McDowall slots into the starting team alongside Glasgow Warriors team-mate Huw Jones, while the back three consists of full-back Blair Kinghorn, left wing Duhan van der Merwe and right wing Kyle Steyn.
George Horne drops to the bench this week for Scotland as Ben White returns to the starting line-up and pairs up with Finn Russell.
There are no changes in the forward pack as co-captain Rory Darge combines with blindside flanker Andy Christie and number eight Jack Dempsey.
Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings combine in the second-row with props Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman either side of hooker George Turner.
Townsend has made changes to his bench, the first being the decision to back a five-three split in favour of the forwards. Rory Sutherland replaces Alec Hepburn as the reserve loosehead prop, with hooker Ewan Ashman and tighthead prop Elliot Millar-Mills both retaining their roles.
Sam Skinner and Matt Fagerson also feature once again while Jamie Ritchie drops out of the squad.
Horne, Redpath, and Kyle Rowe provide backline cover.
Scotland team to face Ireland
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (cc), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Andy Christie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Kyle Rowe
Date: Saturday, March 16
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
READ MORE: Scotland reflect on Italy loss after ‘hard-hitting’ review as ‘huge game’ against Ireland awaits
