Ryan out of Scotland clash as Aki returns to bench

Ireland have been dealt a huge blow ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale with Scotland, with James Ryan ruled out due to injury.

The Leinster second row misses out on the Triple Crown decider with a calf issue and is replaced by Joe McCarthy among four changes from last week’s win against Wales.

With Ryan out, Connacht’s Darragh Murray is in line for his Six Nations debut off the bench, while Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier and Tommy O’Brien also come into the starting side.

Bundee Aki, meanwhile, is included among the replacements for his first game of the championship.

The Connacht centre, who missed Ireland’s first three games of the campaign due to suspension, wasn’t selected against the Welsh a week ago, and will earn his 69th Irish cap.

Sheehan comes straight into the starting team after being rested for in round four, with O’Toole and Tadhg Furlong joining the Leinster hooker in the front row.

Jack Conan continues at blindside flanker, while van der Flier is swapped in for Nick Timoney at openside flanker, while Caelan Doris captains the side from number 8.

O’Brien is the only backline change from last week, coming in for Jacob Stockdale on the left wing, while Rob Baloucoune is on the right.

Jamie Osborne, who has scored a try in each of his last three games, is named at full-back for the fifth time in a row.

Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose are the centre pairing, having started together for every game of the championship.

Jack Crowley continues in the 10 shirt, alongside Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs.

Like Scotland, Farrell has gone with a 5:3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Michael Milne and Finlay Bealham the front row replacements, and Murray and Nick Timoney covering the rest of the pack.

Craig Casey has held off competition from Nathan Doak to wear the number 21 shirt, with Ciarán Frawley and Aki the other backline subs.

A win for Ireland will give them their fourth Triple Crown in five years, while they could still win the Six Nations outright, if France slip up against England in Paris.

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Michael Milne, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciarán Frawley, Bundee Aki