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Billy Burns is scheduled to be named to the Irish half to face France on Sunday at the Aviva Stadium (start at 3pm) amid strong indications that Johnny Sexton has been ruled out following the injury at the head he received in the 69th minute against Wales. Last weekend.
James Ryan, the other Irish player who will be forced to retire in that game after failing an HIA in the first half, is also expected to be sidelined for Sunday’s game alongside Sexton, as neither player has apparently completed. your protocols back to the game. As Peter O’Mahony is suspended, it means that Andy Farrell is ready to make at least three changes to the starting XV, with Iain Henderson and Rhys Ruddock also ready to be included in the group.
The domino effect could see Ultan Dillane and Ross Byrne promoted to the bank. The three players to be ruled out are the Irish captain and his two vice-captains, so they will also leave Farrell and company with a decision to make regarding the captaincy and it is believed that Henderson will be the captain of the team after what it has become a demanding build up to the game for the Irish team.
If all of this comes to pass, it will be only Burns’ second test outing and his first in the Six Nations. It will also be a highly anticipated first outing in the Six Nations for Ruddock, 30, despite the fact that it has been more than a decade since he made his testing debut for Ireland at the age of 19.
He has played for his country 26 times in total and made his Six Nations debut off the bench seven years ago. He scored a try and was man of the match in his second start in a win over South Africa in 2014. He also captained Ireland seven times, each time leading up to victory.
Now finally, at the age of 30, Ruddock is in line to start his first championship game after five appearances off the bench over the years. If at first you don’t make it and all that.
Forced his way
On and off Irish teams since he last played at test level at the World Cup, Ruddock has worked his way into the frame on merits after a streak of consistent good form for Leinster. Looking smart, fit and fit, Ruddock became the first man to win the Leinster Player of the Month award in three consecutive months (October, November and December). While this is certainly a step forward, no player will enjoy the occasion, fans or not, more than Ruddock.
Henderson, who performed so credibly as Ryan’s replacement given he hadn’t played since the Fall Nations Cup, will presumably be joined by Tadhg Beirne in the second row.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Farrell keep a team unchanged on the premise that if they had been able to play the 80 minutes or more with 15 men, rather than the first 14 minutes, Ireland would have had every chance of beating Welsh. and even with 1 man less they were played in winning positions.
That said, there must have been a debate about the back three, or more specifically the wingers, given that Jordan Larmour looked dangerous after replacing Keith Earls and James Lowe was at least partially to blame for conceding the two Welsh attempts. .
However, Earls started strong and brings experience to the bottom three, while it was interesting to hear Farrell cheer on Lowe’s long-distance punts, which definitely adds something more to Ireland’s kicking game. Add in how he was used as a strike runner on opening plays and his undoubted shooting skills, and it seems likely that they will linger on the player in fervent hope that he will improve his knowledge and decision making on defense.
The way Robbie Henshaw showed his recent strong form with his performance last week alongside Garry Ringrose leaves no vacancies for Bundee Aki.
Up front, the way Cian Healy, Rob Herring and Andrew Porter started the game, along with the solidity of the set pieces, and the impact from the bench by David Kilcoyne, Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong, would presumably leave Farrell and Paul O ‘Connell of a mind to leave well enough alone.
However, there is apparently mild concern about Kilcoyne’s injuries, which would also explain why Ed Byrne has been retained on the team this week.
Similarly, Ryan Baird’s retention in the squad is another sign that Ryan may well be ruled out, and with Quinn Roux another absent from the five locks originally chosen in the 36-man squad, which would leave Baird and Ultan Dillane feuding. a place. On the bench.
Cover
Although Jack Conan was another added to the team earlier in the week, he probably has some ground to make up with the other loose forwards on the team, leaving Will Connors to cover the rear again under the presumption that Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander remain in the initial XV.
Ruddock’s possible place in the team is, of course, as a consequence of Peter O’Mahony’s suspension following the red card he received against Wales which, at least, was a bit curious in its wording.
The disciplinary committee of Mike Hamlin (England), Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Val Toma (Romania) ruled that O’Mahony’s act of dangerous play involved reckless contact with the head of Tomas Francis and that the point of entry was middle distance. that is, six weeks. Reasoning that O’Mahony was entitled to a 50 percent reduction in the mitigation penalty, they handed him a suspension of “three significant games.”
But this equates to five weeks, in effect, and the “three significant matches” incorporate Ireland’s Six Nations matches against France, Italy and Scotland, leaving O’Mahony eligible to return during the week of the final match against England.
That the committee apparently considered that Munster’s Pro14 game out of Edinburgh tomorrow week was not significant could be said to be beyond their powers. In any case, it is rumored that there may be an upcoming appeal.
Ireland v France (possible): Hugo Keenan; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Billy Burns, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Andrew Porter; Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson (captain); Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Furlong, Ultan Dillane, Will Connors, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour.
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