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Andy Farrell has reinstated captain Johnny Sexton both in the starting lineup and as Ireland’s favorite midfielder pair with Conor Murray. On the other hand, Robbie Henshaw returns inside the center, which means that Bundee Aki will continue with her recent exploits on channel 13. It’s a lot of hit in that midfield, make no mistake.
Up front, Rob Herring has started again as a hooker, while Ulster mainstay Eric O’Sullivan will make his debut off the bench at some point.
Gregor Townsend has wasted no time promoting the newly qualified Jaco van de Walt out of the outer half of Edinburgh to the starting XV at the expense of Duncan Weir, who is retiring entirely from the team. Huw Jones and Sean Maitland, the non-scrum half, return to the bench, which means Stuart Hogg will cover the ten jersey if necessary. Duncan Taylor makes a welcome return to centers after a horrible spell of injuries and livewire D’Arcy Graham is back on the wing.
The pack shuffles as Sutherland and Zander Fagerson return as pillars and Hamish Watson rests in the last row.
Ireland: Jacob Stockdale; Hugo Keenan, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton (captain), Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Andrew Porter; Iain Henderson, James Ryan; CJ Stander, Peter O’Mahony, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Ronán Kelleher, Eric O’Sullivan, John Ryan, Quinn Roux, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Chris Farrell.
Scotland: Stuart Hogg (captain); Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Duncan Taylor, Duhan van der Merwe; Jaco van der Walt, Ali Price; Rory Sutherland, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray, Blade Thomson, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Oli Kebble, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Blair Cowan, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Huw Jones, Sean Maitland.
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