Ireland forced into late change as Jack Conan pulled

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was forced into a late change to his 23 for their Guinness Six Nations clash with England, with Jack Conan pulled at the last minute.

Conan is replaced in the match day squad by Connacht back-row Cian Prendergast.

A statement reads: “There is one late change to our Match Day Squad. Jack Conan has been ruled out through illness, with Cian Prendergast coming onto the bench.”

With neither Edwin Edogbo nor Cormac Izuchukwu having travelled with the squad to London, Ireland go into the contest with no recognised second row replacement. Tadhg Beirne, who starts on the blindside, will cover any injuries at lock.

“We’ve got some good players who are used to pushing in the scrum in the second row,” Farrell said earlier in the week, when quizzed about the selection ploy.

“Any type of unit like Edwin is going to be quite dominant in that department. I suppose the occasion, when you’re coming on as a new-ish player in a big game like that at Twickenham, are you going to have it in your legs in the last 10 minutes or not?

“There’s a difference there in that regard, but I suppose Joe McCarthy’s big enough and strong enough. We’ve certainly got a determined pack this week to make sure that that area is attacked from us.”

England, off the back of a humbling loss to Scotland at Murrayfield, have opted for a 6:2 split on their bench, suggesting Steve Borthwick’s side are gearing up for an armwrestle.

UPDATED IRELAND TEAM: 1. Jeremy Loughman, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. Jack Crowley, 11. James Lowe, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Garry Ringrose, 14. Robert Baloucoune, 15. Jamie Osborne.

Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Tom O’Toole, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Nick Timoney, 20. Cian Prendergast, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Tommy O’Brien.