Ireland team for decider unveiled
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland has named the matchday squad to face Wales in their decisive Six Nations match in Cardiff on Saturday.
Rory Best will lead the team out on his 64th and final Six Nations appearance.
Cian Healy and Tadgh Furlong will be packing down alongside him in the front row.
Tadgh Beirne and James Ryan are partnered in the second row, with Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and CJ Stander named in the back row.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are named in the pivot positions, with Garry Ringrose partnering Bundee Aki for a seventh occasion in the midfield.
Rob Kearney returns to the backfield and is joined by Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale – who fill the wing berths.
The replacements are Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Jack Conan, Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty and Jordan Larmour.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Christiaan Stander, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Jordan Larmour.
Date: Saturday, March 16
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.45 (14.45 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Here’s the Ireland team for the final round of the @SixNationsRugby Championship.#TeamOfUs #WALvIRE #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/Y1KZDYfb7Y
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 14, 2019
