Furlong and McCarthy to miss Scotland Six Nations clash but Connacht duo passed fit

Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty said that Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen have been passed fit for this Sunday's game at Murrayfield

NOT OUT FURLONG: Ireland assistant coach John Fogarty said Tadhg Furlong is "making great progress" with the calf injury which kept him out of the Six Nations victory over England. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations trip to Scotland this Sunday will come too soon for injured forwards Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy but opening weekend causalties Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen have been passed fit for the Murrayfield clash.

Tighthead prop Furlong was forced to sit out last Saturday’s first-round championship victory over England in Dublin with a recurrence of the calf injury which sidelined him for last November’s Autumn Nations Series of Test matches. Lock McCarthy, an ever present in the second row since the 2023 World Cup, sustained a head knock in training three days before the England game, forcing interim head coach Simon Easterby into a pack reshuffle but neither he nor Furlong will recover in time to face the Scots as Ireland bid to beat their rivals for the 11th game in a row.