Ireland will be without hooker Dan Sheehan for Saturday’s blockbuster Guinness Six Nations clash with France but Conor Murray has been passed fit for the Aviva Stadium showdown. Andy Farrell has made just one enforced change to the starting line-up which dispatched Wales with Sheehan missing out to a hamstring injury.
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Defending champions France came from behind to avoid a shock defeat against Italy in a thrilling Six Nations game. The Azzurri led 24-22 before Matthieu Jalibert sniped over from close range as France claimed a bonus-point win at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
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Duhan van der Merwe ensured Steve Borthwick’s England reign was launched with an agonising defeat after the Scotland wing crossed twice in a Calcutta Cup classic at Twickenham. Van der Merwe plundered his decisive second try in the 74th minute as Scotland came from behind to record a dramatic victory in their Guinness Six Nations opener.
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Warren Gatland’s return was spoiled by Ireland as the world’s number one side humbled Wales in the opening Six Nations match in Cardiff. Ireland’s storming start saw tries from Caelan Doris, James Ryan and James Lowe – and 12 points from Johnny Sexton – establish a 27-3 half-time lead that Wales would never manage to surmount.
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Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Ireland’s 2023 Six Nations opener vs Wales in Cardiff, in a major blow for Andy Farrell’s side. Furlong, who has only played 36 minutes of rugby since the autumn internationals, has failed to recover from a calf injury, leaving Connacht’s Finlay Bealham to start at tighthead prop.
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