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Furlong, Sexton and Ringrose back in Ireland team

Tadhg Furlong starts against Scotland
Tadhg Furlong starts against Scotland

Johnny Sexton, Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong all return to the Ireland team for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash against Scotland.

Prop Furlong makes his first appearances of the championship and his first competitive appearance since December, while out-half Sexton and centre Ringrose have recovered from injuries that kept them out of the round three win over Italy.

In total, Andy Farrell has made six changes to the side that won in Rome, with Dan Sheehan starting at hooker instead of Ronan Kelleher, while Peter O’Mahony returns to the blindside flank with Jack Conan named on the bench.

Conor Murray takes Craig Casey's place with fit-again Jamison Gibson-Park on the bench. Robbie Henshaw is also in line for a first game of the tournament after recovering from a wrist injury and is named among the replacements.

The back three of Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe is unchanged, while Bundee Aki moves to inside centre.

Andrew Porter is at loosehead prop, while James Ryan and Iain Henderson continue their second row partnership.

O'Mahony joins Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris, returning to the number 8 shirt, in the back row.

"It's always nice to have players coming back towards the end of the tournament," said Farrell.

"This stretch now coming up is probably the hardest stretch, back-to-back games with the six-day turnaround.

"It's not really [the toughest selection]. Form, champing at the bit, the right balance of what fits for the starting team and what fits for the bench in terms of the energy that comes on [is all taken into account]."

On the welcome return of Furlong, Farrell said: "He's a world-class prop and a great leader. When you look around the changing room there's certain players who give a sense of confidence, whether they are saying something or not.

"He brings confidence to the team by how he prepares and that gives us confidence to know that he's ready to play.

"Tadhg's nothing to lose. He just needs to be himself, he just needs to go out there and enjoy it. He's enjoyed the week, he's been pretty relaxed so far, he's been great around the group.

"He'll build up for what's going to be a physical battle, like everyone else will, and he's nothing to lose. He just needs to go out there and perform the best he can for his team."

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Iain Henderson, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.

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