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WALES HEAD COACH Warren Gatland has made one change to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield, bringing in Ospreys lock Adam Beard to replace Cory Hill.

Hill will miss the rest of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury during Wales’s 21-13 victory over England 10 days ago.

Scarlets forward Jake Ball takes Beard’s place on the bench, with Gatland announcing the team 48 hours earlier than initially planned.

Although full-back Leigh Halfpenny continued his comeback for the Scarlets three days ago after suffering concussion in November, Gatland has retained Ospreys centre Owen Watkin as the outside back on replacement duty.

Wales are chasing a 13th successive victory, having not been beaten since the midway point of last season’s Six Nations, when Ireland toppled them 37-27 in Dublin.

If they beat Scotland and defeat Ireland in Cardiff seven days later it would secure the title and a Grand Slam in Gatland’s final Six Nations campaign at the helm.

Although Wales lost to Scotland in Edinburgh on their last visit two years ago, they had won the four previous Murrayfield encounters.

And they will face a Scotland side beaten by Ireland and France in their past two Six Nations outings.

Wales last won the Six Nations in 2013, a year after their most recent Grand Slam.

Wales (v Scotland): 

15. Liam Williams
14. George North
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Hadleigh Parkes
11. Josh Adams
10. Gareth Anscombe
9. Gareth Davies

1. Rob Evans
2. Ken Owens
3. Tomas Francis
4. Adam Beard
5. Alun Wyn Jones (captain)
6. Josh Navidi
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Ross Moriarty

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Dillon Lewis
19. Jake Ball,
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Aled Davies
22. Dan Biggar
23. Owen Watkin

© AFP 2019

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RHYS RUDDOCK HAS shaken off a hamstring injury to return to action for Leinster in Friday night’s Guinness Pro14 clash against the Cheetahs at the RDS, as Leo Cullen makes nine changes to his starting XV.

Ruddock was ruled out of contention for Ireland’s Six Nations trip to Rome last weekend after sustaining the injury in training but will hope to get valuable minutes under his belt for the eastern province tomorrow evening [KO 7.35pm, eir Sport/Premier Sports].

Ruddock is back to full fitness. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

The flanker captains Leinster from the back row with Dave Kearney, Adam Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin, Jamison Gibson-Park and Scott Fardy among those also returning to Cullen’s side for the round 17 encounter.

Kearney has also shaken off a knock to start at fullback while Byrne returns to Leinster action to win his 50th appearance on the right wing having trained with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland in recent weeks.

O’Loughlin partners Conor O’Brien in midfield with McFadden shifting wings and Ross Byrne resuming his half-back pairing with Gibson-Park, as James Lowe misses out on the non-European player selection rule. 

Fardy, who this week announced his decision to remain with Leinster next season, adds experience to a pack which is also bolstered by Ruddock’s presence as well as the selection of Ireland international Michael Bent in the front row.

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Peter Dooley and Bryan Byrne are handed starting opportunities for the visit of the Cheetahs to Dublin, with Ross Molony — last week’s captain — retained in the second row. Max Deegan and Caelan Doris continue at seven and eight respectively.

There is a powerful look to Leinster’s bench, too, with Mick Kearney recovering from a shoulder knock to take his place among the replacements alongside James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Andrew Porter, Josh Murphy, Hugh O’Sullivan, Noel Reid and Barry Daly.

Defending Pro14 champions Leinster are bidding to consolidate their advantage at the top of Conference B having extended their lead to 22 points with a nine-try rout of the Southern Kings last time out.

The Cheetahs have made just two changes from their defeat to Scarlets last week as Franco Smith’s side bid to record their first victory on Irish soil since joining the Pro14 at the start of last season.

Leinster:

15. Dave Kearney 
14. Adam Byrne 
13. Rory O’Loughlin 
12. Conor O’Brien 
11. Fergus McFadden 
10. Ross Byrne 
9. Jamison Gibson-Park 

1. Peter Dooley
2. Bryan Byrne 
3. Michael Bent 
4. Ross Molony 
5. Scott Fardy 
6. Rhys Ruddock (captain)
7. Max Deegan 
8. Caelan Doris 

Replacements:

16. James Tracy 
17. Ed Byrne
18. Andrew Porter 
19. Mick Kearney 
20. Josh Murphy 
21. Hugh O’Sullivan
22. Noel Reid 
23. Barry Daly.

Cheetahs:

15. Louis Fouche
14. William Small-Smith
13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg
12. Dries Swanepoel
11. Rabz Axwane
10. Tian Schoeman
9. Tian Meyer

1. Ox Nche
2. Reinach Venter
3. Aranos Coetzee
4. Walt Steenkamp
5. JP du Preez
6. Gerhard Olivier
7. Abongile Nonkontwana
8. Junior Pokomela.

Replacements:

16. Jacques du Toit 
17. Charles Marais 
18. Luan de Bruin 
19. Sintu Manjezi 
20. Marnus van der Merwe 
21. Henco Venter 
22. Rudy Paige 
23. Shaun Venter.

Referee: Nigel Owens [WRU]. 

Bernard Jackman joins Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey to discuss the backlash to World Rugby’s league proposal, captaincy styles, sports psychology and more in The42 Rugby Weekly.

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AARON SMITH HAS committed his future to New Zealand and has signed a new two-year deal with Super Rugby side, Highlanders.

Aaron Smith with New Zealand team-mate Liam Squire. Source: AAP/PA Images

The 30-year-old, who made his All Blacks debut in 2012, has made 81 Test appearances for the reigning world champions.

“From my earliest playing days, my focus has always been about being passionate about the teams I play for and I’ve always enjoyed giving 100 percent to the teams I represent,” Smith said.

“I’m grateful to NZ Rugby and the Highlanders organisation for all the support they’ve given me over my career and for the opportunities they have provided for myself and Teagan, going forward.”

Smith also made his first appearance for the Highlanders in 2011, making 129 appearances in eight years with the team.

The controversial off-the-field figure has been handed two separate formal warnings by the NZR after a highly publicised airport toilet incident where he was caught emerging with a woman from a cubicle before a flight to South Africa in 2016.

The enquiry into the original incident was reopened in 2017 when the woman at the centre of the affair claimed Smith offered her money to lie in a legal affidavit that they did not have sex in the toilet.

The woman told reporters she had been involved in an affair with Smith for two years after the player had said it was a “one-off incident”.

“Nuggy has been such an outstanding player for us over many years and deserves every accolade he gets,” said All Blacks head coach, Steve Hansen.

“He’s a passionate team man, a leader in our team and gives his all to the group. He works incredibly hard on his game and has been incredibly consistent since first coming into the All Blacks.

Smith became the most capped All Blacks half back of all time (overtaking Justin Marshall) in the Test defeat to Ireland in Dublin last November.

He has scored 16 tries for New Zealand and kicked a conversion against Australia in 2014.

His 129 Highlanders appearances put him second only behind Ben Smith.

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IF YOU WERE to have a debate about the best outside centres in world rugby at present, Garry Ringrose’s name would be very much in the mix.

Still just 24, the Dublin man has become a key cog for Leinster and Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, a player of intelligence and decision-making class, essential to both teams’ defences and capable of delivering crucial cutting edge in attack.

He makes his return from a hamstring injury for Ireland against France in the Six Nations today and his team-mates are happy, perhaps even a little relieved, to see him back in the 13 shirt.

Ringrose returns for Ireland against France today. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“He adds an extra dimension,” says Ireland captain Rory Best. “Garry has that X-factor, there’s no doubt about it. He just has the ability in a really, really tight game like we’re going to get against France to potentially unlock something from nothing.

“I’ve played with a few players in an Irish jersey who had that ability and whenever it comes to tough moments that’s really important.

“To see how hard he’s worked to get back quickly, it’s a real bonus for us. Garry is just a little bit different. He doesn’t have the sheer size but his footwork is just electric.”

Oddly enough for a player who is so perfectly suited to the 13 jersey now, Ringrose was mainly a scrum-half up until he was in fifth year in Blackrock College and only became an outside centre in sixth year, via a stint at fullback.

Ringrose wasn’t a star in his early school days, but he eventually shone in Blackrock’s Leinster Schools Senior Cup success in 2013, when he was a goal-kicking influence who scored a long-range solo try in the final against St Michael’s College.

Since then, he has excelled consistently but it wasn’t always the case that Ringrose looked destined for the top of the game. Far from it.

Justin Vanstone, the current Blackrock senior team coach, was in charge of the school’s ‘House’ team – a development side for the senior team – when Ringrose was in fourth year but initially sent him to play with the Colts, a step below.

Ringrose hadn’t been able to get onto the Junior Cup team as a scrum-half in third year, playing for the seconds. However, when he was dispatched to the Colts, something began to stir.

“He was too good and got sent back to me,” recalls Vanstone. “I actually taught Garry in third-year Maths as well. As well as being a coach’s dream, he was a teacher’s dream.

Ringrose playing Senior Cup rugby for Blackrock in 2013. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“Very self-driven, very self-aware, he knew what he was good at and what he wasn’t so strong at.

“When I sent him to the Colts, he listened, he was never a guy who questioned why others were ahead of him. He focused on making himself better and made sure that it was clear I’d made a mistake. That’s Garry in a nutshell.”

There was something about Ringrose’s subtly clever play that suggested to Vanstone that he would thrive with more space, despite his relatively small stature at that stage. A move to fullback bore fruit.

“Garry has a great sense of space, great spatial awareness,” says Vanstone. “He’s a good footballer, makes really good decisions and is very calm.

“We realised we needed to get Garry on the ball more and more. He wasn’t the biggest guy at that stage but I liked how he made up for it in other ways. Technically, he was very sound.”

And yet, Ringrose still wasn’t marked out as a future professional when he reached sixth year, but an injury at 13 saw him making the move into midfield and suddenly his potential kicked into full gear.

His catch-pass, kicking, defensive and decision-making skills were perfect at outside centre and he was a vital figure as the Peter Smyth-coached Blackrock side won the Cup.

Only months later and after leaving school to join Leinster’s sub-academy, Ringrose was selected for the Leinster U20s despite being a year young for that level.

He played in a game against Leicester Tigers’ academy at Ashbourne, where then Ireland U20s coach Mike Ruddock was watching.

“He got the ball out in the five-metre channel close to the touchline,” recalls Ruddock.

Ringrose in his first season with the Ireland U20s. Source: Photosport/Andrew Cornaga/INPHO

“There were three young Tigers looking to hunt him down but with the most incredible bit of footwork I’ve seen – other than Shane Williams – Garry managed to dance through these three would-be tacklers and come out the other side without any of them touching him.

“Not only that but he ran on and scored. It was standout stuff and you’re looking for that when you’re putting a national squad together.”

With that major green tick alongside his name, Ringrose was brought into the Ireland set-up a year early, starting the first two Six Nations games before Ruddock dropped him for the remainder of the 2014 championship.

Ruddock felt the 18-year-old wasn’t quite suited to the heavier, more physical games in the Six Nations – when the weather can be poor – but kept Ringrose in his plans for that summer’s Junior World Championship.

“I left him out and I remember saying that he needed to keep working hard on becoming a little bit more physical with his defensive duties. He did that, went away and worked hard with a real focus on it.”

Ringrose proved to be a sensation in New Zealand in 2014, excelling as Ireland finished fourth. He was nominated for World Rugby Junior Player of the Year after a string of performances that included a two-try showing against Wales in Pukekohe.

“He was fantastic and put in a great physical shift in defence,” says Ruddock. “Straight away, we were all talking about him as a potential senior player.”

Advancing into the Leinster academy proper for the 2014/15 season, Ringrose had another year with the Ireland U20s under Nigel Carolan, helping them to seventh place in Italy in the 2015 World Championship.

His senior Leinster debut came at the start of the 2015/16 season – a campaign in which he made 20 starts – and he was an Ireland international by November 2016, making his debut against Canada at the age of 21. 

Throughout the rise, Ringrose has looked unflappable and remained unfailingly level-headed. One couldn’t meet a more polite interviewee.

Ringrose on his senior Ireland debut in 2016. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

“He’s got a lovely set of parents,” says Vanstone of Ringrose, who still helps out in Blackrock whenever asked. “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, and his younger brother Jack [who plays for UCD in the AIL] is the same.

“What was really impressive with Garry and Jack was the way they supported each other. Garry talks about his family a lot in interviews and he very much lives that life too – he’s so supportive of Jack.

Ruddock has always been similarly impressed with Ringrose’s character, enjoying a chat with the Leinster midfielder whenever they bump into each other now.

“He was the same with the U20s – humble, respectful, unassuming,” says Ruddock. “Let’s be honest, he’s a good-looking guy, a bit of a film star profile, but he doesn’t walk around with any sort of cockiness about him and you’ve got to love that about the guy.

“Every time I see him he doesn’t seem to have changed at all. He’s at ease in anyone’s company and I think he’s a great ambassador for Irish rugby. I’ve met his mum and dad and he’s from a lovely family, so it’s very easy to see why he’s like that.”

Ringrose – who many people feel was hard done by not to tour with the Lions in 2017 – is already a vital figure for Ireland and he will be even more important in the post-Schmidt era after this year’s World Cup when there will be an inevitable sense of transition.

“He is the kind of guy you can build a side around,” says Vanstone. “He’s an excellent role model.

Ringrose is a key figure for Ireland at the age of 24. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“He could have another eight years or more at the highest level, which is kind of scary!”

Best, who will vacate his position as Ireland captain after the World Cup, also has respect for Ringrose’s unfussy style of leadership.

“The way Garry leads is a wee bit similar to the way Earlsy [Keith Earls] leads, it’s not so much talking in big groups but it’s managing people around him,” says the Ulsterman.

“When you’re training and playing, he manages the forwards, drags us around the place. He’s so fit, he sets so early and puts pressure on you to set too. It’s that little bit of talk too.

“He leads, firstly, by his actions on and off the pitch.”

– This article was updated at 11.52am to correct ‘team’s’ to ‘teams” in the second paragraph.

 

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ULSTER HAVE INCLUDED three of Ireland’s U20 Grand Slam winners in their ‘A’ squad for this week’s trip to America for two Cara Cup fixtures.

David McCann, Callum Reid and Iwan Hughes have all travelled to Boston with the northern province for games against Connacht ‘A’ and the New England Free Jacks after helping Ireland to Six Nations glory last Friday night. 

Ireland U20 out-half Iwan Hughes. Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

McCann and Reid came off the bench for Noel McNamara’s side in the win over Wales, while out-half Hughes was an unused replacement at Colwyn Bay after receiving a late call-up to the matchday 23.

JJ McKee, Stewart Moore and Bruce Houston have also been named in Ulster’s travelling party after being involved in Ireland’s extended squad over the course of the U20 championship.

Senior Ulster squad players Ross Kane, Caleb Montgomery, Johnny McPhilips and Jack Owens are also selected for the Stateside games by coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson.

Ulster will face the Connacht Eagles in Massachusetts on Wednesday in the second fixture of the inaugural Cara Cup, before playing the Free Jacks on Sunday 24 March.

In the opening game of the competition, Connacht Eagles beat the Major League Rugby outfit 38-7 at the Union Point Sports Complex on Saturday. 

Ulster squad:

Forwards: Claytan Milligan, Zack McCall, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Peter Cooper, Ross Kane, Jack Regan, Bradley Luney, JJ McKee, Charlie Clarke, Joe Dunleavy, David McCann, Marcus Rea, Caleb Montgomery.

Backs: Michael Stronge, Lewis Finlay, Graham Curtis, Bruce Houston, Johnny McPhilips, Jack Owens, Ben Power, Stewart Moore, Iwan Hughes, Ben McCaughey.

Cara Cup fixtures:

Wednesday 20 March:

Connacht Eagles v Ulster A

Sunday 24 March:

Free Jacks v Ulster A

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JOEY CARBERY RETURNS to the Munster XV tomorrow, with Johann van Graan naming his side to face Edinburgh in their Champions Cup quarter-final [KO 12.45pm, live on Virgin Media One, Channel 4 and BT Sport].

A hamstring injury picked up in training ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations win over Italy had ruled the out-half out of action for the past month.

But he’s set to make his return at Murrayfield alongside a strong international contingent including Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Andrew Conway tomorrow.

The news of Carbery’s inclusion caps a nice week for him on a personal level, with the Athy star signing a new contract with Munster until 2022 on Tuesday.

There are 11 changes in all. Elsewhere, Jack O’Donoghue — who has impressed since his return from a knee injury — has been rewarded for his recent brilliant form with a start at openside. This comes as his first Champions Cup start of the season.

O’Donoghue has been going well. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Chris Farrell also returns to the back-line, while locks Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne line out alongside captain O’Mahony. CJ Stander starts at eight.

Munster are the first of the three provinces out in Champions Cup action this weekend, and a win would see van Graan’s men into a third consecutive semi-final.

Munster

15. Mike Haley
14. Andrew Conway
13. Chris Farrell
12. Rory Scannell
11. Keith Earls
10. Joey Carbery
9. Conor Murray

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7.Jack O’Donoghue
8. CJ Stander.

Replacements

16. Rhys Marshall
17. Jeremy Loughman
18. Stephen Archer
19. Billy Holland
20. Arno Botha
21. Alby Mathewson
22. Tyler Bleyendaal
23. Dan Goggin.

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NOT LONG AFTER a coach and two players had retreated back behind locked doors from the rooms Leinster routinely open to the media, the squad was assembled for a meeting.

The walls in UCD aren’t flimsy, but you could hear enough to know the group are in a good place – even if you hadn’t witnessed their seismic defeat of Ulster on Friday night.

There were cheers, there was clapping, but none of the noise was of an overly boisterous nature. The sounds were of metaphorical back-slapping after a job very well done.

“I suppose Friday night was an accumulation of a few 75% performances. To go out and get a 90-plus performance was very satisfying,” said ex-Connacht lock Mick Kearney, perhaps summing it all up best.

Some spectators could see the performance coming in hindsight, others were shocked. But for Leinster players themselves it was an affirmation of a belief they’ve held all the way through the winter. Through their route to the top of the Pro12, Champions Cup near-misses, losses and exits. They’ve known they were capable of putting a display like Friday together, it just doesn’t always click as nicely as it should.

‘Our sort of game’

“We’ve been saying it non-stop in interviews and in our meetings,” nods loosehead Jack McGrath.

“The way we started is the way we want to start games; quick, fast and hit the ground running. Far play to Ulster, they came back into it. I think half-time came at a good time for us, took a bit of sting out of them. We scored after that and took the wind out of their sails a little bit.

“That’s what we want to be doing to teams under pressure, playing our sort of game.”

McGrath was standing in the same spot three weeks ago when he said he was embarrassed coming in to work after a humbling defeat in Belfast had given Ulster a temporary swagger in the inter-provincial rivalry. The prop was asked if he felt better after a point had been proven against their neighbours up the M1.

“That (ruthless) streak that we wanted to go on and keep scoring against them was something everyone felt. It was good to see from a Leinster team.”

Backs coach Girvan Dempsey didn’t broach much of an argument when the 30 – 18 success was labelled Leinster’s best of the season. However, there is still a fierce inter-pro rivalry standing in their way of a trophy and Leinster are not floating in celebratory mood like a side ready to dip below the bar again.

“In a final,” Dempsey says, “you don’t need much to get yourself up for it. It’s there, within your grasp.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

“You just know it’s about managing external bits and pieces, managing nerves and making sure you put in a performance. We’re delighted with how the game went on Friday night and we know it’s going to be a very difficult task against a very consistent Connacht team.”

So difficult indeed, that Leinster feel the need to prove another point after suffering defeat in both of their visits to the Sportsground over this season and last.

McGrath was the man to address the incredibly tight 7 – 6 March loss in Galway, and looked forward to Saturday’s Murrayfield rematch in typically understated fashion.

“A lot of disappointment after that. No doubt Connacht are a quality side, so there is a point to prove.

“They’re going well and we’re going well, so it’s going to be a good game.”

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PAT LAM HAS targeted another Guinness Pro12 title next season after his side secured their first-ever trophy with a 20-10 win over Leinster in the 2016 decider in Edinburgh.

Lam has masterminded Connacht’s rise to Pro12 glory. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

Connacht had never before lifted silverware in their 130-year history, but a stunning attacking performance at Murrayfield saw them convincingly overcome favourites Leinster.

With the sound of Connacht fans singing ‘The Fields of Athenry’ filtering in from outside Murrayfield after the victory, head coach Lam outlined that this is only the beginning of the western province’s ambition.

“We’ve got a plan and we’re back [for pre-season] on June the 30th,” said Lam. “I’ve already set the goals for next year. Being realistic, we’ve got to go defend this and go back-to-back in the Pro12. It’s realistic for us to try and win it again.

“The second one is I want to try and get into the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup. I’ll put that out there now because come June the 30th, we start the work again. We continue what we’re building.

Lam, like his captain John Muldoon, expressed pride and joy at Connacht’s remarkable achievements this season, stating that his only period of worry today was when his side began to kick the ball early in the second half, inviting Leinster back into the game.

Lam said he has never doubted the way in which Connacht have gone about earning this glory, particularly their ambitious approach to attack.

“Not at all. I always like to think with the end in mind and then work my way back. I’ve said many times that I want us to be a team that can go through the opposition team, go around them or go over a team, because you can’t defend everything.

Try-scorers Niyi Adeolokun, Tiernan O’Halloran and Matt Healy. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“You need systems and structures to do that so you can click into it when you recognise when it’s happening on the pitch.”

Lam also expressed pleasure at seeing captain John Muldoon lift a trophy after his 275th appearance for the province.

When the former Blues coach first arrived, he appointed Gavin Duffy, Michael Swift and Muldoon as his three captains, before realising that Muldoon was the man for the job.

The Connacht boss has also been thrilled to watch the 33-year-old learning new skills and being utterly comfortable in his side’s game plan.

“As I spent time here, I quickly realised this is the one,” said Lam of Muldoon. “This is the Connacht man. This is the chosen one to lead the group.

“I knew it was going to be a challenge because it’s a new style. People talk about teaching old dogs new tricks, but that’s wrong. I’m old too and I’m learning right through.

“I’m excited by where I could be in five years time, because I know I’m a better coach than I was last year and last week, a better coach than five years ago. The players are all learning and growing.”

Lam’s brilliant Connacht earn first-ever trophy with stunning win over LeinsterSensational Adeolokun try puts Connacht in the driving seat