Summary

  • Scotland & Ireland rugby team announcements

  • Gregor Townsend makes three changes for Scotland

  • Ireland made four changes as Bundee Aki on bench

  • Andy Farrell news conference scheduled for 16:00

  • Both sides can still win Six Nations title on Saturday

Send us your Irish rugby views

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:21 GMT 12 March

    Ian: Josh Bayliss very unlucky to miss out, but Bradbury has looked strong for Edinburgh. Wonder if Rowe coming in is covering the potential of Steyn's injury causing an issue.

    Bob: Pleased enough with that team. Different challenge from France, think it will be more of a forward battle. Bayliss will be disappointed but Craig and Bradbury offer more grunt. Kyle Rowe certainly deserves his spot on the bench.

  2. Postpublished at 11:18 GMT 12 March

    Our BBC Northern Ireland colleagues will be all over that Ireland team announcement at 14:00.

    It will follow our coverage of Scotland on this page!

  3. Ireland team at 14:00 - expect changespublished at 11:15 GMT 12 March

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland chief sports writer

    Ireland will announce their team this afternoon. My Irish moles tell me that Tommy O'Brien is likely to come in for Jacob Stockdale on the wing.

    Dan Sheehan is pushing to reclaim the hooker spot from Ronan Kelleher.

    Joe McCarthy is likely to come back into the second-row. Tadhg Beirne should move to the back-row in that event.

    If that pans out then the team that starts against Scotland will be the same as the outfit that battered England at Twickenham.

  4. Gilchrist's landmark momentpublished at 11:12 GMT 12 March

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland

    What a week it's been for Grant Gilchrist.

    His daughter, Maggie, was born in the days leading up to the France game, when the big lock came off the bench to play his part in one of Scotland's greatest ever wins.

    Now he's back in from the start to face Ireland and win his 88th cap, which will see him surpass Scott Murray as Scotland's most-capped lock.

    With the blow of losing both Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown to injury, Gilchrist's experience will be vital in Dublin, especially alongside Max Williamson, a fine player but one who has been struggling for form in this championship.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:06 GMT 12 March

    Garry: Wonder if Bayliss is paying for his penalty that arguably cost Scotland two tries on Saturday? Cynical and completely unnecessary - exactly the sort of indiscipline that cannot be tolerated. Very pleased to see Bradbury and Rowe involved - both well deserved.

    Paco: Big mistake in not having Bayliss. And surely 6-2 is required against Ireland? This will be a physicality contest first and foremost and without Cummings the forwards need every bit of help they can get.

    If I had to guess, Josh Bayliss' omission is purely tactical. Remember last year against Ireland when Scotland went 6-2 on the bench and Finn Russell and Darcy Graham were forced off after 20 minutes?

    If it's a physical game you might want power on the bench, but it also may take its toll with injuries!

    Share your views.

  6. Postpublished at 11:00 GMT 12 March

    Magnus Bradbury's last Six Nations appearance was in 2022 in a victory over Italy.

    His star has risen and fallen a lot over his career, but no doubt if he is up for it he could do some damage for Scotland as Andy says.

    Don't let that smile deceive you...

    Magnus Bradbury during a Scotland Rugby training session at the Oriam, on March 02, 2026, in Edinburgh Scotland.Image source, SNS
  7. Bradbury ballast off the benchpublished at 10:55 GMT 12 March

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Magnus Bradbury is another who has found Scotland opportunities hard to come by.

    He has been a strong performer in an under-performing Edinburgh side this season, and his route into the Scotland back-row has been blocked by the magnificent form of Jack Dempsey at number eight.

    Bradbury at his best is a beast. The criticism has been that we don't see his best often enough, but when he is in the mood he can be a devastating carrier.

    Twenty minutes or half an hour of him towards the end of the game in Dublin could be crucial to keep Scotland moving forward.

  8. Shot at redemption for big Maxpublished at 10:51 GMT 12 March

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland chief sports writer

    So there it is - probably the biggest selection of Gregor Townsend's time in charge of Scotland. We wondered who would partner Grant Gilchrist in the second-row and thought it might be Alex Craig. It's not.

    It's something of a surprise that it's Max Williamson given that the big man - huge talent but not at his best right now - was hauled off early in Cardiff and wasn't in the 23 for France. Massive show of faith in him by Townsend.

    Zander Fagerson also starts after playing a bench role against France. What's the thinking there? After so many poor starts in their 11 straight losses against Ireland perhaps Townsend is giving his team the best chance to stay in the hunt early on rather than keeping heavy artillery like Fagerson for later in the day.

    Rae is still an excellent operator to have on the bench. They might play close to 40 minutes apiece just like last weekend. Empty the tanks and then come off.

    Craig is on the bench and offers plenty of oomph. So is Magnus Bradbury and that looks a shrewd call. Bradbury is a seriously hard nut.

    Kyle Rowe makes his first squad of the championship as part of a 5-3 bench. It was 6-2 last weekend. Rowe deserves it. He's been a terrific force in the Glasgow team. Feel for Josh Bayliss and Freddy Douglas who miss out.

  9. Classy Rowe gets his chancepublished at 10:45 GMT 12 March

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland

    I'm pleased to see Kyle Rowe in the 23.

    He's a player who has had to bide his time, much in the way that Kyle Steyn did previously.

    He performs consistently well for Glasgow Warriors, has never let Scotland down when called upon, but is more often than not overlooked for the big Test matches.

    Rowe won't get the chance to make the sort of exceptional impact Steyn has made on this Six Nations, but he will have an important role to play in Dublin.

    You can bet he will be straining at the leash to get out there and show what he is all about.

    Kyle Rowe during a Scotland Rugby training session at the Oriam, on March 02, 2026, in Edinburgh ScotlandImage source, SNS
  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:41 GMT 12 March

    Right, the squad is out so let's get your thoughts.

    Get in touch with us via the 'Get Involved' button at the top of the page, or left-hand side if you are using a laptop or desktop PC!

  11. Williamson gets chance in Dublinpublished at 10:37 GMT 12 March

    So, Glasgow's Max Williamson gets a second chance in the second row after being hauled off early in Cardiff amid the absence of Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown. His Warriors team-mate Alex Craig is the back-up in that department.

    Zander Fagerson is in from the start at tighthead and, as predicted by our very own Tom English, Magnus Bradbury gets a first appearance in the squad this Six Nations. The Edinburgh number eight is on the bench.

    As is back-three utility man Kyle Rowe, who has been brilliant for Glasgow but has not made a squad in this championship due to the ferocious competition.

    It's a five-three split of forwards and backs in Dublin for Scotland.

  12. Scotland team to face Irelandpublished at 10:32 GMT 12 March
    Breaking

    Scotland: Kinghorn, Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Steyn, Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Gilchrist, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

    Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Rae, Craig, Bradbury, Horne, Rowe, Jordan.

  13. Scotland's bench now a weaponpublished at 10:30 GMT 12 March

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland

    For a long time Scotland had a starting 15 to mix it with anyone, but found it hard to compete with the top sides when it came time to turn to the bench options.

    This championship has seen the Scots make great strides in that area, not only in the quality Gregor Townsend can now call upon, but the head coach's instincts on who to call upon and when.

    At various points, Townsend has elected to use key players for their impact off the bench, players that previously would have been nailed on starters.

    Zander Fagerson, Pierre Schoeman, Grant Gilchrist and Darcy Graham have all started games in this Six Nations from the bench, and all have been used effectively in that role.

    Townsend is going to his bench earlier than he has done before in his tenure, and those replacements are deployed as weapons rather than merely substitutes for tiring or injured bodies. Scotland have been better for it.

  14. How it standspublished at 10:25 GMT 12 March

    Heading into the final round - or Super Saturday as it is known - France are in the driving seat.

    Due to their vastly superior points difference, they know if they take maximum points from their match against England in Paris (20:10 GMT), they defend their Six Nations title.

    If they fall short, Scotland just need to have bettered their result when they play Ireland earlier in the day (14:10 GMT) to win a first ever Six Nations crown.

    Meanwhile, Andy Farrell's men need to defeat Scotland and hope from a favour from England if they want to claim the title they last won in 2024.

    Six Nations 2026 table
  15. Could Bradbury make bench?published at 10:21 GMT 12 March

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland chief sports writer

    Does Gregor Townsend go 6-2 again? And if he does, is it Josh Bayliss and Freddy Douglas or, perhaps, a different combination? Darge and Bayliss are Townsend's emergency men for the backline.

    Bayliss will be involved. Douglas is a major operator in the making, but the extra muscle the ball-carrying muscle that number eight Magnus Bradbury provides is something that the coach might consider.

    He's bang in form. It wouldn't be a shock if he was named in the 23. He'll go close.

    Townsend will reveal his team on Thursday. There hasn't been this much anticipation about a Scotland selection in more than a quarter of a century.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:16 GMT 12 March

    Remember when the team is announced, you can share your views via the 'Get Involved' button at the top of the page.

    Or to the left of the page if you are on a laptop/desktop.

    We'd love to hear from you!

  17. Who starts in second row?published at 10:13 GMT 12 March

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland chief sports writer

    How do you replace the injured Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown?

    Grant Gilchrist is one of the obvious ones to step up. Gilchrist has adapted well to his bench role in the last two games. He's been an important part of an impressive cavalry.

    Beside him? Max Williamson started in Cardiff but was flat and lost his place in the 23 for France.

    Jonny Gray hasn't played any rugby since the end of January and a partnership of Gilchrist and Gray doesn't give enough ball-carrying oomph.

    Alex Samuel, a giant, has just come into the squad. Too much to expect him to go into the 23?

    Alex Craig seems like the clear choice here. He hasn't played a minute in this championship, but he started in Glasgow's wins over Toulouse and Saracens in December.

    He's skilful and he carries. There's a bit of X-factor from Craig.

  18. Postpublished at 10:12 GMT 12 March

    With injuries taking their toll after Saturday's incredible 50-40 win over France, Gregor Townsend is left with a few interesting calls to make.

    Let's take a look at a few key areas.

  19. Townsend to name title-chasing teampublished at 10:01 GMT 12 March

    For the first time, Scotland are in contention to win the Six Nations on the final weekend.

    Gregor Townsend is naming his 23-man squad to play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday (14:10 GMT) this morning.

    We will bring you the team as soon as it's announced, plus analysis and reaction from the Scotland head coach.

    Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend during a Scotland Rugby training session at Oriam, on March 09, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland.Image source, SNS