Irish Rugby

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Men's Six Nations: Scotland v Ireland

Date: Sunday, 9 February Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC One & BBC iPlayer; live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster & BBC Sounds; live text commentary on BBC Sport website

Bundee Aki has urged Ireland to guard against switching off against Scotland in Sunday's Six Nations game at Murrayfield.

Holders Ireland dominated the second half in last weekend's opening win over England.

However, the Irish were slow to start and conceded two late tries which allowed England to leave Dublin with a losing bonus point and Aki has warned his team-mates they cannot afford such lapses against Gregor Townsend's side.

"Yeah I think the boys rectified it and spoke about it. We said that obviously if we switch off like that, in any part of the game, against Scotland, they will rip you apart," said centre Aki, who scored Ireland's second try in the 27-22 defeat of England.

"If Finn Russell sees those things he will absolutely take you into the gutters, and same as Duhan van der Merwe, Huw Jones, Darcy Graham.

"If anyone sort of switches off, they will absolutely cut you apart. We've just got to make sure that we're mentally prepared, mentally sharp and make sure we're on top of it from the first whistle to the last."

The 34-year-old has also called on Ireland to display a ruthless edge against Scotland, who beat Italy in their opening game.

"The game at the weekend, there were obviously a few things in the first half which didn't go our way or we didn't stick the passes that we wanted to," explained Aki.

"But we sort of found our way into it in the second half. Against Scotland, we probably won't have those kind of chances throughout the game and we've got to make sure that we're much more clinical.

"That's the good thing about the squad, we get to improve on what we didn't do well in the game.

"We're obviously very proud of being able to adapt in the second half but we're trying to be more clinical and accurate."

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When Stuart McCloskey suffered a "decent enough" hamstring tear against Munster in December, just a few weeks out from the Ireland squad announcement, he knew the Six Nations was going to come too soon for him.

The timing was far from ideal, especially given McCloskey's ongoing attempts to reclaim a Test starting spot.

But after seven weeks on the sidelines, the 32-year-old centre is available again for Ulster and will feature in Friday's friendly at home to Queensland Reds.

McCloskey retains hope that he may he get a call from Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby during the Six Nations and he will be an interested spectator on Sunday when the holders face Scotland at Murrayfield.

"I think we've had, touch wood, the number over Scotland over the last few years and I think [Sione] Tuipulotu being out for Scotland as well is going to be massive," said McCloskey.

"So that I think hopefully tips it in our favour."

He added: "He's probably the form 12 in Europe, if not the world, over the last six months or so.

"Losing a guy like that, a guy that a lot of their shape goes around as well, I think he takes a lot of pressure off Finn Russell.

"Losing a guy like that is always going to affect your team, especially when he's such a fulcrum for what they do in attack."

McCloskey's return is part of a triple boost for Ulster boss Richie Murphy, who also welcomes back Jacob Stockdale and James Hume, the latter having spent 10 months out with a knee injury.

Now 32, he will be one of the most experienced heads in an experimental Ulster side facing a Reds outfit packed with Wallabies experience on Friday.

The Reds are now coached by former Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss and McCloskey smiled when asked about catching up with his former boss on Friday.

"Strangely, he messaged me on LinkedIn about six months ago saying, 'I probably won't see you when you're at this game', but it looks like I am,  so it'll be good to have a beer with him after."

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Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty is hoping to avoid a repeat of his Murrayfield "panic" from two years ago when prop Cian Healy had to move to the centre of the scrum and flanker Josh van der Flier was forced to undertake line-out throwing duties.

Hooker Ronan Kelleher and replacement Dan Sheehan were both injured before half-time in the 2023 Six Nations game which led to some improvisation from Andy Farrell's group of players.

This sides meet again on Sunday at the Edinburgh venue after both earned opening wins last weekend.

Asked about what he was thinking when both hookers were forced off, Fogarty used some colourful language before quickly adding for public consumption: "It was a nightmare. I was in a little bit of a panic.

"I was talking to Cian Healy and saying 'you've got to keep the brake foot up. And will we do this, and will we do that?'"

Incredibly, Healy promptly won a scrum penalty and continued on in that vein as Van der Flier's line-out throwing was also largely impeccable.

'This is brilliant'

Fogarty's principal recollection from the game is how coach Farrell seemed to be revelling in the challenge of it all.

"We came in at half-time and I was trying to figure it out in my mind.

"And I walked into Andy and he just goes, 'this is brilliant'. And he was smiling and he was like way happier in the chaos of what was happening."

Fogarty says he and fellow coach Paul O'Connell weren't enjoying the predicament quite so much.

"[I was thinking] Have I spent enough time with Cian [at half-time]?

"There was that little bit of that from me and from Paul. Paul isn't as cool as you might think."

However, the Irish responded to the adversity by holding Scotland scoreless in the second half as tries from James Lowe and Jack Conan completed a 22-8 victory.

A week later, the 29-16 victory over England sealed Ireland's fourth Grand Slam.

"We had a good plan but it was more the playing group. The playing group took any information, were calm enough to go out there and do what an Irish player does and be competitive and stay in the moment."

Jude McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Head coach Richie Murphy has welcomed the return of internationals Jacob Stockdale, James Hume and Stuart McCloskey for Friday's game against Queensland Reds (19:35 GMT).

The Ireland trio have all been named in the starting line-up with lock Alan O'Connor captaining the side and Conor McKee making his debut at scrum-half for the friendly in Belfast.

While Ulster line up with a mix of experience and young prospects, Murphy is looking forward to facing a Reds side packed with international pedigree.

"They scored 82 points last weekend. We'll try and make sure that they don't score 82 points this weekend and hopefully the game lives up to its billing," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.

"The lads are looking forward to it, looking forward to getting back on the field and try to fix a few of the things that weren't quite right against Zebre."

Murphy has made 11 changes to his team that lost to the Italians last time out with Tom Stewart, Lorcan McLoughlin and David McCann the only surviving forwards.

In the back line, Aidan Morgan starts at fly-half with Jake Flannery coming in at full-back.

"It's one of these games where you get an opportunity to try a few things, so in that regard, we're really looking forward to it," Murphy added.

"The three boys coming back in is a massive thing and it's great the way we have this game in order to give them some experience before we get back into the league.

"The likes of Conor McKee hasn't played with us before so he'll get an opportunity to play this week. Matty Dalton's coming back from a long time away from the province, has shown up really well in training, so we're really excited to see those guys go."

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Injury doubts Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham remain in contention to feature in Ireland's Six Nations game against Scotland on Sunday, but Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy look set to again be unavailable.

Winger Hansen, 26, left the field in the first half of Saturday's win over England as a blood substitution after sustaining a cut knee though he did return to finish the victory.

Tight-head prop Bealham, meanwhile, had an ankle injury following the England game but scrum coach John Fogarty said that the Connacht pair "looked good" in training on Wednesday morning.

"They trained just now and it looks positive for both of them. They took part in the full session," said Fogarty.

The news was less positive concerning British and Irish Lions tight-head prop Furlong and lock McCarthy with Fogarty saying the Murrayfield contest is likely to "come too soon" for the Leinster duo.

Furlong missed the England game because of a calf injury with concussion ruling McCarthy out of the Aviva Stadium contest.

Ireland are already short of options for the number three jersey given Furlong's injury and with Ulster's Tom O'Toole serving the last match of a six-game ban this weekend.

Bealham was replaced for the final 21 minutes of the England game by Tom Clarkson.

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Ulster backs James Hume, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale are all set to return to action after injury lay-offs.

The club have said the Ireland international trio have resumed full training and are available for selection in Friday's mid-season friendly against Queensland Reds at Kingspan Stadium (19:35 GMT).

Centre Hume has not played since suffering a serious knee injury last April, while Stockdale and McCloskey have been out since November and December with hamstring problems.

Wing Werner Kok is ruled out of Friday's having undergone wrist surgery, while Ethan McIlroy had knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

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Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park says there is "no reason" Scotland cannot beat Simon Easterby's side in their Six Nations meeting on Sunday (15:00 GMT).

Both sides won their opening fixtures last weekend. Ireland overturned a half-time deficit to beat England in Dublin, while Scotland survived an Italian fightback in Edinburgh.

Gregor Townsend's side have not beaten Ireland since 2017, a 10-game run that includes seven Six Nations games, two World Cup pool meetings and an Autumn Nations Cup clash.

"They're a classy side," said Gibson-Park.

"They're playing good footy, and they're stacked full of really good individuals, so it will be a tough challenge. I know it's been a long time since they won [against Ireland] but there's no reason they can't."

Victory for Ireland would equal the longest run of wins in this fixture, set by Scotland between 1882 and '93, but Gibson-Park does not feel the hosts will be more motivated than any other opposition.

"I think that's the case for a lot of teams now," he said when asked whether Scotland's desperation for victory would be a factor in the game.

"We've kind of been near enough to the top of the rankings now for a while and, like, I know myself that if I'm coming up against a quality side you want to put your best performance out there. Next week will be no different I think."

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Ireland "hope" Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham will be fit to play Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The Connacht duo both picked up knocks in the opening round win over England in Dublin last weekend.

Winger Hansen, 26, left the field in the first half as a blood substitution, though did return to finish the victory.

Tight-head prop Bealham, 33, suffered what the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) described as a leg injury in the second half and was replaced for the final 21 minutes by Tom Clarkson.

Ireland are already short of options for the number three jersey, with Tadhg Furlong still struggling with a calf issue and Tom O'Toole serving the last match of a six-game ban this weekend.

The IRFU said that Furlong and lock Joe McCarthy, who missed out against England through concussion, have "both stepped up their rehabilitation programmes" but that a decision on their availability will not be made until later in the week.

Munster forward Thomas Ahern and Connacht back Shayne Bolton have been added to the squad this week, bringing the total number of players in Simon Easterby's panel to 39.

Ireland's interim head coach will name his side to face Scotland on Friday.

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Former Grand Slam winner Tommy Bowe praised Jack Conan and Dan Sheehan's impact off the bench in Ireland's Six Nations win over England on Saturday.

In his first Test appearance since last year's Six Nations, back row Conan added a serious injection of ball-carrying threat after being introduced early in the second half, while hooker Sheehan marked his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury with a try.

Speaking on the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast, former Ireland star Bowe said "game breakers" Conan and Sheehan should be under consideration for this summer's British and Irish Lions tour.

Bowe said: "The two players that did come off the bench that absolutely could be and probably should be going on the Lions tour is Jack Conan, who started at eight in all three Tests of the last series and Dan Sheehan, who I think is one of the best hookers in the world right now.

"He's just come back from an ACL. It's only his second match back after a five-month recovery, which is quite remarkable and unheard of, he was phenomenal when he came on."

Bowe, who twice toured with the Lions, also said praised Ireland's depth of leadership.

"From an Irish point of view, there's so many great leaders, but [Jamison] Gibson-Park is one of the leaders in there.

"He's so fundamental. There's [Caelan] Doris at eight, you have James Ryan in the second row. It's the spine of the team."

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Celtic Challenge, Clovers v Brython Thunder

Clovers (34) 58

Tries: Clohessy 3, McGann 2, Barrett 2, Costigan 2, Ugwueru Cons: Fowley 4

Brython Thunder (0) 0

Clovers scored 10 tries as they comprehensively defeated Brython Thunder 58-0 at Kingspan Stadium to make it four wins from five in their Celtic Challenge campaign.

The Irish side crossed six times in the first half, including a hat-trick of scores from second row Jane Clohessy, who was named player of the match.

Clohessy barged over for the opening touchdown in the third minute to set the tone for the game, with Anna McGann running in to extend the lead three minutes later after a weaving run by wing Chisom Ugwueru.

Clohessy burst through the Welsh team's defence midway through the half to add her second try, then prop Sophie Barrett rumbled over for the bonus-point score.

Thunder enjoyed spells of possession and were competitive at the ruck but found themselves further behind when Clohessy completed her hat-trick after McGann set her up by breaching their opponents' defence.

Clovers captain Amee Leigh Costigan got her name on the scoresheet when she completed a flowing move by going over in the corner as her side led 34-0 at the break.

The one-sided nature of the contest continued in the second half as Ugwueru darted over two minutes after the resumption, then Barrett, McGann and Costigan all scored their second tries of the game.

Nicole Fowley converted four of her side's tries.

A fourth straight win then for Denis Fogarty's side while it is six losses in a row for Brython Thunder.

Clovers: Méabh Deely, Amee Leigh Costigan (capt), Anna McGann, Caitriona Finn, Chisom Ugwueru, Nicole Fowley, Emily Lane, Siobhán McCarthy, Emily Gavin, Sophie Barrett, Aoibhe O'Flynn, Jane Clohessy, Brianna Heylmann, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Jane Neill.

Replacements: Beth Buttimer, Grainne Burke, Saoirse Crowe, Grace Browne Moran, Beibhinn Gleeson, Grainne Moran, Alana McInerney, Aoife Corey.

Gwalia Lightning: Rhodd Parry; Courtney Greenway, Kelsie Webster, Anwen Owen, Caitlin Lewis; Carys Hughes, Sian Jones; Maisie Davies, Molly Wakely, Cana Williams, Lily Terry, Alaw Pyrs, Bryonie King (capt), Catrin Stewart, Gwennan Hopkins.

Replacements: Mollie Mae Crabb, Dali Hopkins, Danyelle Dinapoli, Lottie Buffery-Latham, Katie Bevans, Freya Bell, Carys Williams-Morris, Jenny Hesketh.

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Glasgow Warriors fell to a fourth-consecutive Celtic Challenge defeat as they were outclassed by defending champions Wolfhounds at Scotstoun.

Warriors raced into an early lead through Briar McNamara's try in their first home game this campaign but were 33 points behind just after the second-half restart after dominant Wolfhounds showed their quality.

Ceitidh Ainsworth and Emily Coubrough scored second-half tries as Warriors fought to claw back some of the deficit.

The result leaves the hosts second bottom of the competition table, level on points with bottom side Brython Thunder.