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Ireland forced into late change as Jack Conan pulled

Rome , Italy - 15 March 2025; Jack Conan of Ireland, centre, with teammates Tadhg Beirne, left, and Andrew Porter during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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6 Comments
E
Eric Elwood 56 days ago

That was a thing of beauty!

I am guessing the boys watched the U20 match last night…

u
unknown 56 days ago

England's players certainly took ‘inspiration’ from their U20 counterparts!!

B
Bob Salad II 56 days ago

An 80-minute performance of absolute rubbish the likes of which we haven’t seen since the tail end of the Jones era.

It takes a special kind of incompetence to turn a reasonably fluid England team into this crap in the space of 2 games.


I’m speechless other than to acknowledge a solid, comprehensive and emphatic Ireland well deserved win.

u
unknown 56 days ago

I agree 100%! Why didn't Borthwick's bench make more (AKA any) impact!! Marcus Smith showed some imagination and Pepper had moments. But far too many English players were simply anonymous.

Only Earl and Lawrence looked international class for England!!

But take nothing away from Ireland !!!

u
unknown 56 days ago

OMG!! The wheels have well and truly come off England's chariot today! I generally don't believe in criticising players or officials .. but Ford and Stewart had horrible games - and shouldn’t play again!!

But the decision not to penalise Furlong for his clear-out on Curry was absolutely shocking!! It was a penalty at the very least (and I felt a red card!) It would also have meant no yellow card for Pollock and was a 7 point mistake by the officials!

But no arguments .. Ireland were SUPERB!!

H
Hammer Head 56 days ago

England by 5. But a draw would be just as good.

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