Caelan Doris is poised to return to captain Ireland for Saturday’s Six Nations showdown against France at Aviva Stadium.
In a major boost to Simon Easterby’s title-chasing squad, the form No8, captain and talisman is set to be back on board to face Les Bleus this weekend.
Doris sat out the 28-17 win against Wales in Cardiff a fortnight ago, ending a run of 42 consecutive internationals in the process, with Jack Conan deputising and Dan Sheehan assuming the captaincy role.
Caelan Doris is poised to return to captain Ireland for Saturday’s Six Nations showdown against France. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
But the 26-year-old has made good progress in recent weeks and it now looks likely that he will return to anchor a potent backrow featuring Josh van der Flier and Peter O’Mahony, who is set to play his last home game for his country following his retirement announcement last week.
Finlay Bealham is expected to return to the frontrow after he sat on the bench at Principality Stadium. The Connacht prop should return alongside Andrew Porter and Sheehan in a settled front row.
It appears this game has come a week too soon for Tadhg Furlong. The Leinster tighthead has yet to feature in this championship due to a persistent hamstring issue and is unlikely to be risked against this sizeable French pack.
Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy are likely to be retained as the starting second row pair.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast are set to continue their half-back partnership while Garry Ringrose’s suspension means that Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki should resume as a tried and trusted midfield.
Hugo Keenan, who didn’t make the matchday 23 for the Welsh game, is pushing for a return at full-back, with James Lowe and Mack Hansen the likely starts on either wing.
Hansen, however, is a possible doubt and if the Connacht wing, who signed a two-year central contract with the IRFU earlier this week, is ruled out then Jamie Osborne, who started at full-back against Wales, may be drafted onto the right wing.
It remains to be seen if Easterby decides to counter a seven-strong bench of French forwards with an Irish ‘Bomb Squad’ of his own but the interim head coach may be tempted to unleash James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan on the visitors in the second half.
The experienced frontrow pair of Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole may also be included on a beefed-up Irish bench, especially after Ireland’s scrum problems at Principality Stadium.
Cian Healy and Conor Murray are also poised for an emotional farewell at Ireland HQ, with the pair confirming their international retirement recently too.
Easterby will confirm his matchday squad at midday.
France head coach Fabien Galthie is set to welcome Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud back into his starting line-up.
Meanwhile, Marcus Smith’s hopes of winning back the England No10 shirt lay in ruins last night, after he was dropped to the bench by Steve Borthwick. A month after going into the Six Nations as the leading flyhalf, he was axed, having been shifted to full-back for the recent wins over France and Scotland. With Fin Smith seizing his chance as playmaker, Saracens’ Elliot Daly has been preferred by Borthwick at 15 against Italy at Twickenham.
As first revealed by Mail Sport, centre Henry Slade has also been dropped from the match-day 23. His place has been taken by Fraser Dingwall, who is the fifth Northampton back in Borthwick’s side.
Elsewhere, Ireland Under 20 head coach has included Tom Wood in a much-changed side to face France in Cork tomorrow evening.
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