Niall Scannell’s chance to shine

Joe Schmidt has turned to Niall Scannell as the hooker to tighten up Ireland’s scrummaging power for the must-win second Test against Australia at AAMI Park tomorrow morning.

With Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong either side of him, the Munster number two will win his eighth cap in Melbourne, a little over two weeks after head coach Schmidt drafted him into the touring squad as a last-minute replacement for the injured captain Rory Best.

A surprise selection given Leinster’s Sean Cronin, the most experienced hooker on tour, had been expected to start after bench duty behind Rob Herring last week in Brisbane, Scannell has been tasked with providing extra “value” in Schmidt’s words to an Irish scrum which had been in the unusual position of being dominated at times during the opening 18-9 defeat.