Easterby throws down gauntlet to Scots with O'Mahony inclusion

Easterby has invited two pretty nuggety players to the Scottish party in O’Mahony and centre Robbie Henshaw.

Ireland's Peter O'Mahony is tackled by Scotland's Jack Dempsey and Huw Jones.

Gregor Townsend may insist there is no needle between his Scotland side and the Ireland team set to visit Murrayfield on Sunday but the view from the other side of the Irish Sea appears to be somewhat different.

That became crystal clear on Friday, before the Ireland squad departed Dublin Airport for Edinburgh, when interim head coach Simon Easterby explained he was bringing back 35-year-old Peter O’Mahony to his forward pack to deliver some “edge” to this eagerly anticipated 2025 Guinness Six Nations second-round clash.