Rugby World Cup 2023: Iain Henderson and Dan Sheehan come into Eire group for Scotland conflict | Rugby Union Information

Iain Henderson will begin rather than vice-captain James Ryan in Eire’s second row for Saturday’s pivotal Rugby World Cup conflict with Scotland in Paris.

Dan Sheehan replaces Ronan Kelleher at hooker in the one different change from the facet that beat South Africa almost two weeks in the past.

If Eire keep away from defeat they are going to prime Pool B and face a possible quarter-final in opposition to New Zealand. Scotland should beat Eire and likewise deny them a dropping bonus level to progress.

There’s additionally one extremely unlikely state of affairs the place Eire and Scotland might each progress at South Africa’s expense. If the Scots beat Eire by a minimum of 21 factors, obtain a attempt bonus-point in doing so (a minimum of 4 tries), and Eire additionally choose up a attempt bonus-point of their very own in defeat.

Leinster lock Ryan sustained a hand damage in his Eire’s 13-8 win over South Africa on September 23 and has been named on the bench, handing a primary begin of the match to Ulster skipper Henderson.

Sheehan has been most popular to Leinster team-mate Kelleher and can make his full World Cup debut within the different change to Andy Farrell’s beginning XV, whereas back-rower Jack Conan is again on the bench following damage.

Sheehan got here on in opposition to the Springboks a fortnight in the past for his first look since struggling a foot damage within the warm-up win over England on August 19. Quantity eight Conan is in line for his first outing since damaging foot ligaments two months in the past.

Centre Robbie Henshaw, who has been combating a niggle, has been changed on the bench by Stuart McCloskey, whereas flanker Peter O’Mahony will win his a centesimal Eire cap.

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Highlights from Saturday’s Rugby World Cup motion as Eire recorded victory over South Africa, England thrashed Chile and Georgia and Portugal drew

Veteran fly-half Johnny Sexton will captain his facet for the fourth successive Pool B fixture following his return from an absence of virtually six months on account of damage and suspension.

The 38-year-old can be partnered by Jamison Gibson-Park, with the in-form Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose in midfield and wings James Lowe and Mack Hansen becoming a member of full-back Hugo Keenan within the backline.

Sheehan can be sandwiched between provincial team-mates Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, with Henderson packing down alongside Tadhg Beirne.

Centurion O’Mahony, who made his Take a look at debut in opposition to Italy in 2012, will proceed within the again row with world participant of the 12 months Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris.

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James Cole displays on Eire’s 13-8 win over South Africa in Pool B

The Munster captain is ready to turn into the tenth Irishman to succeed in the milestone, following Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Rory Greatest, Paul O’Connell and John Hayes, and present team-mates Cian Healy, Sexton, Conor Murray and Keith Earls.

Conan, Ryan and McCloskey are joined in reserve by Kelleher, props Dave Kilcoyne and Finlay Bealham, scrum-half Murray and fly-half Jack Crowley.

Eire: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Iain Henderson, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Stuart McCloskey

Johnny Sexton will captain Eire for his or her essential closing pool sport in opposition to Scotland

Worth comes into sturdy Scotland facet

Gregor Townsend has made 12 adjustments to the facet that beat Romania as Scotland bid to upset the world No 1 facet. Scotland have received simply considered one of their final 13 conferences in opposition to Eire, who’re on a run of 16 Take a look at matches unbeaten.

Ali Worth comes into the beginning XV to accomplice Finn Russell at half-back, with loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and tighthead Zander Fagerson returning to the entrance row alongside hooker George Turner.

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Worth; 1 Pierre Schoeman 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Richie Grey, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge 8 Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 WP Nel, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 Luke Crosbie, 22 George Horne, 23 Ollie Smith.

Finn Russell will play a key function for Scotland as they search for a momentous win on Saturday

What is the present state of play?

South Africa at the moment prime the ‘group of loss of life’, in any other case often known as Pool B, however have performed all of their fixtures.

It’s unlikely, however not unattainable, that Eire and Scotland can advance with the Springboks lacking out altogether.

Scotland would advance in the event that they beat Eire by a minimum of 21 factors whereas additionally claiming a bonus level. On this state of affairs, Eire might nonetheless qualify in second place in the event that they themselves secured a bonus level (by scoring a minimum of 4 tries).

This is able to take all three groups to fifteen factors, with Scotland progressing prime on factors distinction, after which Eire on their head-to-head document in opposition to South Africa having crushed them earlier within the match.