Ireland's preparations for tomorrow’s Guinness Six Nations meeting with Scotland have been disrupted, with Mack Hansen forced to withdraw from the round two game at Murrayfield due to injury.
Hansen had been a doubt for this game earlier in the week after suffering a deep laceration to his left knee in last week’s win against England, however the IRFU have confirmed it's an unrelated hamstring issue on his right leg.
Calvin Nash comes straight into the team on the right wing, where he will win his ninth cap, and first since last summer's tour of South Africa.
The 27-year-old started all five games of last year’s Six Nations campaign while Hansen was also unavailable with a dislocated shoulder.
And Ireland captain Caelan Doris says the Munster man has shown he can step up to Test level.
"There's a lot of trust in Calvin in how he's been with us over the last number of years but also how he's played for much of this year. It should be quite a seamless transition," Doris said.
"He's class. I’ve known him for quite a while, we played together at 18s and 20s as well, so I have seen his quality the whole way, but probably over the last two years in particularly he has kicked on with Munster and took his opportunity incredibly well this time last year over in France.
"There is a lot of confidence, he has trained really well as well over the last number of weeks, so I am looking forward to seeing him tomorrow."
Nash had been unlucky to miss out on selection for last week’s championship opener after his two-try showing in Munster’s final Investec Champions Cup pool game away to Northampton Saints, which coincided with Hansen (above) serving a three-match ban following his comments about referee Chris Busby in Connacht's URC defeat to Leinster in December.
Doris believes Nash's style is well-suited to Ireland's attacking strategy.
"I think all our wingers like to get involved a bit on the edges but also through the path of the nine, and he offers that there as well.
"Disappointing for Mack, obviously, he's been an integral part of what we've been about over the last number of years, but I think he [Hansen] made the right call.
"But what an opportunity for Calvin at the same time and Mack is happy for him," he added.
It's a third change to Ireland’s starting team from last week’s 27-22 win against England, with Peter O’Mahony and Robbie Henshaw brought in, as Ryan Baird and Garry Ringrose drop to the bench.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw.
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