Joe Schmidt backing tenacious Tommy O'Donnell against Scotland

Joe Schmidt has backed a fresh and enthusiastic Tommy O’Donnell to meet fire with fire when he faces Scotland tomorrow at the expense of rested rookie Josh van der Flier.

The omission of Leinster openside flanker van der Flier, 22, from the matchday squad for Ireland final encounter of the 2016 RBS Six Nations was the only change from the starting line-up which put Italy to the sword in Dublin last Saturday. Yet it raised eyebrows given the impact van der Flier had made in his first two appearances on the Test stage.

Schmidt, though, felt the newcomer was in need of a rest after two bruising 80-minute performances and with what he described as an athletic and “incredibly combative” Scotland back row coming to the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening.