It was a disappointing day for all Irish rugby fans when a last second Marcus Smith drop goal ended Ireland's 11 match unbeaten run in the Six Nations and the prospects of a back-to-back Grand Slam. It would be very kneejerk to call for mass changes to the Ireland team for the Scotland match with a Six Nations Championship on the line.
Ireland have played very well up to now and were just outplayed by a resurgent England who had a lot to play for. Ireland's starting team hasn't really been tinkered with besides the Italy match and even there weren't mass changes. Andy Farrell has kept to a similar 23 man squad so far in the Six Nations and hasn't needed to change much.
Nonetheless there are still a few changes to the Ireland squad we would like ahead of the title decider.
The Ireland Team We Would Like To See Face Scotland
Garry Ringrose To Start On The Wing
It looks likely Andy Farrell will be forced into making at least one change ahead of the title decider against Scotland. Calvin Nash went off after failing a HIA in the first few minutes of the match. This meant that Hugo Keenan had to move to the wing and Cíaran Frawley came on at fullback.
As good as Hugo Keenan played yesterday, everyone would agree that he is at his best in the 15 jersey. Therefore it leaves the dilemma of who is going to start on the wing against Scotland. The only other out and out wing options in the squad are Jordan Larmour and Jacob Stockdale and Farrell has tended to not pick them.
One man who is strong in defence however is Garry Ringrose. The Leinster man normally plays in outside centre but does have previous experience on the wing. His first few caps for Leinster back in 2015 actually came on the wing and on occasion like during the World Cup against Scotland, Ringrose has shifted out onto the flank in lieu of injuries.
'Ringer' is just returning from a shoulder injury and it would be his first start in a 14 shirt for Ireland but if there's one man to back to put in a shift out there, it's Ringrose.
Craig Casey To Come In For Conor Murray
11 February 2024; Craig Casey of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
SEE ALSO: The Giddy English Media Reaction To Beating Ireland In The Six Nations
Conor Murray's impact off the bench against England has spawned a lot of debate online, especially the decision for him to kick the ball away when there was around 90 seconds on the clock. While it would be harsh to completely drop him based on one kick, he should make way for Casey for another, possibly more valuable reason.
This Six Nations is the first of a new World Cup cycle and many teams have taken the opportunity to embed in new players, whether out of necessity or by choice.
This means that Casey needs to get more gametime. He's only 24 and with Jamison Gibson-Park now being 32, Casey looks likely to be the starting scrum-half by 2027. Experience is a crucial part of playing scrum-half, knowing how to control the tempo and martial the forwards around the park and it's a skill that comes with playing more high pressure situations.
Shuffle The Bench And Bring In Stuart McCloskey
11 February 2024; Stuart McCloskey of Ireland in action against Tommaso Menoncello of Italy during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
People have conjured up many reasons why Ireland lost and many decisions that cost them the chance to go for back-to-back Grand Slams. One of them that's hard to disagree with is the decision to go for a 6/2 split on the bench. It's a tactic regularly used to success by South Africa but it comes with a major risk that Ireland paid for in Twickenham.
With Calvin Nash having to be taken off after 3 minutes, Cíaran Frawley came on and Ireland were down to just Conor Murray as the only recognised back on the bench. Then 10 minutes into the second half Frawley himself had to be taken off for Murray and failed a HIA. This meant that scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park was moved to the wing and Murray played in his usual scrum-half. While JGP put in a good shift akin to Kieron Marmion against the All Blacks in 2018, it's not ideal to play your scrum-half on the wing.
We would bring back a 5/3 split for the Scotland game with Harry Byrne coming in for Frawley and one of Baird or Conan make way for Stuart McCloskey. The Ulster man has always performed in an Ireland shirt and even played on the wing against Wales after a couple injuries meant he had to deputised there. The additional back on the bench means between Harry Byrne, McCloskey and the starting Jack Crowley, centres and back three are fully covered in case of any scenarios.
The atmosphere around next week's match has certainly deflated after the loss in Twickenham but this Ireland team still have a chance to win a Six Nations crown and it's a title they deserve for how they've played this year, even if there's no Grand Slam at the end of it.
SEE ALSO: All The Permutations For 2024 Six Nations Title After Ireland Lose To England
