England v Ireland: Hugo Keenan gets the nod as Andy Farrell names team for Six Nations clash

James Ryan has been ruled out for the rest of the championship, the Ireland coach confirmed

FIGHTING FIT: Ireland's Hugo Keenan will return to action in London. 

Hugo Keenan returns to Ireland’s starting line-up for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with England at Twickenham but James Ryan’s championship is at an end due to injury, Andy Farrell revealed on Thursday.

The return of Keenan at full-back following a knee injury sustained in the round-two win over Italy on February 9 is the only change to the team which started the victory against Wales last time out 13 days ago.

Ireland made it three bonus-point wins from three without Keenan, Ciaran Frawley having deputised impressively at full-back with a try-scoring performance in the 31-7 defeat of the Welsh in Dublin that maintained the 2023 Grand Slam winners’ lead at the top of the Six Nations table. Yet Keenan’s return is an undoubted bonus for the Ireland boss as his side looks to set a championship record of 12 consecutive victories.

“I think it would be a boost for any side in world rugby,” Farrell said. “He’s a world-class full-back.

“It’s testament to him and it’s no shock to us that he’s been able to get himself back to this position to be involved this weekend as he’s been unbelievably diligent over the last few weeks to make that happen.” Frawley returns to the bench position he occupied for the opening match against France in Marseille on February 3 with the head coach sticking to the six forwards and two backs split for his replacements, a configuration he deployed in Marseille and against Wales, though lock James Ryan misses out with a bicep injury sustained in training.

“He got injured yesterday in training, just a freak accident really,” Farrell said, “just a reaction, reaching out for a tackle that was non-contact and he’s injured his bicep.

“He won’t be available for the remainder of this Six Nations.” Iain Henderson moves onto the bench as second-row cover with Ryan Baird continuing as a lock/flanker replacement and Jack Conan also offering back-row support.

Tighthead prop Oli Jager, who made his Ireland debut off the bench against Wales, is also absent with a troublesome knee. The Munster front-rower’s absence opens the door to a return for Finley Bealham as back-up to starter Tadhg Furlong, who is set to win his 75th cap on Saturday. 

“Oli has got a bit of niggle with his knee. Played his first Test obviously and that was a big week for him. Finlay is unbelievably experienced and done really well for us in the past, and he's really keen to get out there and show what he can do at Twickenham.” With players of the calibre of fit-again centre Garry Ringrose and fellow midfielder Stuart McCloskey not making the Irish matchday squad, Farrell praised the depth of his squad for making selection so difficult.

“It’s a privileged type of week for us. We have got good people. We have got people who care about what’s right for the team and they understand that our job is to do exactly that as far as selection is concerned etc.

“Everyone rows in together. I have no doubt that the back-to-back nature of the last two games is going to test the full squad. It’s nice to have a fit enough squad, even though we have got a couple of injuries there going into the second last game.

STOMPING GROUND: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will bring his side to Twickenham this weekend. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

“Hopefully there are not too many casualties this weekend, I suppose that is the nature of it, so we would expect a little bit of that. But ties us in nicely for next week as well, having good players that missed out this weekend.” Of those missing out, Farrell credited the attitude shown by Ringrose, whose omission he relayed directly to the player on Wednesday.

“He’s fit and he’s well, he’s trained all week. He’s done all the contact work necessary to be available. It’s just circumstances. Garry knows exactly.

“I had a chat with him yesterday and he was smiling in the fact that it’s just circumstances. He knows what I think about him as a rugby player and his comment to me was that he’s been on the good side of circumstances so many times as a player as well so he understands.” 

IRELAND (v England): H Keenan (Leinster); C Nash (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht), J Lowe (Leinster); J Crowley (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster); J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster); P O’Mahony (Munster) – captain, J van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster).

Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), I Henderson (Ulster), R Baird (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster).

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