Ireland v Scotland - Preview

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Tommy O'Donnell replaces Josh van der Flier in Ireland's only change from the side which beat Italy. Captain Rory Best will play after recovering from a minor calf problem.

Duncan Weir starts at fly-half for Scotland, deputising for Finn Russell, who was forced off early against France with concussion.

Peter Horne, who impressed after coming on for Russell, is again named as a replacement, while Ryan Wilson starts at number eight ahead of Josh Strauss.

Scotland's third change sees Tim Swinson come in for lock Jonny Gray, who is sidelined by a torn pectoral muscle.

Alastair Eykyn: "These two need a big finish. The Irish started as back-to-back champions, but they could end the campaign as low as fifth.

"Even allowing for extensive injuries, and some carnival rugby against Italy, that would be a stinker of a campaign - and no way to finish off the Paddy's Day celebrations!

"After a slow start, Scotland are flying, and they have a golden chance to nail down three Championship wins for the first time in 20 years.

"The extra spice is added by two old friends going head-to-head. Kiwis Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter, coaching pals from Clermont days, are now trying to outwit each other on the international stage." 

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt: "If we can get that top-half finish I'd be very happy that we've worked our way through a pretty challenging time.

"Hopefully that could give us a little bit of a platform into what is an incredibly tough second half of the year.

"We're going to play the top three teams in the world in six Test matches - three of those away in Africa, where we've never, ever won a Test match before."

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter: "I am probably more focused on the game itself than giving a review on the whole [tournament].

"We want to put in a good performance this weekend and we're focusing on that.

"We're not thinking about the [IRB] rankings either - just about the game. We're just concentrating on being good on the day, because being good on the day is what counts.

Ireland have beaten Scotland 13 times in 16 Six Nations fixtures.

Ireland's 40-10 victory at Murrayfield last year equalled their biggest winning margin against the Scots (they won 36-6 at Murrayfield in 2003).

The Scots have lost eight of nine Tests away to Ireland since the turn of the century. Their sole victory was a 23-20 win at Croke Park in 2010.

Their last win at Lansdowne Road/Aviva Stadium was a 17-16 win in 1998.

Ireland are unbeaten in their last eight Six Nations home games (W6, D2) - their best home run in the history of the Championship.

Robbie Henshaw has carried the ball more than any other back in this year's Six Nations. His 55 carries have earned Ireland 258m.

Ireland's tackle success rate of 92% is the best in this year's Championship.

They also boast the best scrum record, with 27 won and just one lost.

Victory would see the Scots win three successive Six Nations games for the first time.

The last time they were victorious in three consecutive Five Nations games was in 1996, when they won their opening three against Ireland, France and then Wales.

The only previous Six Nations campaign in which they won three games in total was in 2006.

Greig Laidlaw will captain his country for the 26th time on Saturday - surpassing David Sole's record for most caps won as Scotland's skipper.

Scotland are the least penalised team in this year's Six Nations, conceding just 35 penalties in their four matches.

Ireland

15-Simon Zebo, 14-Andrew Trimble, 13-Jared Payne, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-Keith Earls, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best (c), 3-Mike Ross, 4-Donnacha Ryan, 5-Devin Toner, 6-CJ Stander, 7-Tommy O'Donnell, 8-Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: 16-Richardt Strauss, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Nathan White, 19-Ultan Dillane, 20-Rhys Ruddock, 21-Eoin Reddan, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Fergus McFadden.

Scotland

15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Tommy Seymour, 13-Duncan Taylor, 12-Alex Dunbar, 11-Tim Visser, 10-Duncan Weir, 9-Greig Laidlaw (c); 1-Alasdair Dickinson, 2-Ross Ford, 3-Willem Nel, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Tim Swinson, 6-John Barclay, 7-John Hardie, 8-Ryan Wilson.

Replacements: 16-Stuart McInally, 17-Rory Sutherland, 18- Moray Low, 19-Rob Harley, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Henry Pyrgos, 22-Peter Horne, 23-Sean Lamont.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)

Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa) & Alexandre Ruiz (France)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

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India Avoid Series Whitewash at SCG

India pinched 13 runs off the final over of the fifth and final one-day international against Australia at the SCG on Saturday night to avoid a series whitewash. The six-wicket victory – India’s first of the five-match series – ended Australia’s 18-game one-day international winning streak at home.

Man-of-the-match Manish Pandey was the hero for the visitors in just his fourth ODI, hitting a classy unbeaten 104 from 81 balls to guide India to a victory target of 331 with just two balls to spare. Mitch Marsh, whose 102 not out was vital in another big Australian total, bowled the fateful final over, which produced a dubious wide before MS Dhoni hit a low full-toss for six over long-off.

Dhoni then holed out to David Warner running in from long-off but Pandey stepped up with a glide to the third-man boundary that brought up his maiden ODI century and then he hit the next ball over mid-off for the winning runs. India finished at 331-4 to get home, but Australia won the series 4-1.

India set up the win thanks to a solid contributions from openers Rohit Sharma (99) and Shikhar Dhawan (78) who combined for an opening stand of 123. At one stage they were rollicking along at seven runs an over. But, like he did in the fourth match in Canberra, the re-introduction of John Hastings in the 19th over yielded instant dividends, sucking Dhawan into a big shot to a retreating Shaun Marsh in the deep. Marsh dived back to take a stunning catch at deep point that brought the crowd of just over 33,000 to life.

Hastings then claimed the crucial wicket of Virat Kohli for eight – easily his lowest score of the series. But Dhoni, who was dropped by Nathan Lyon, then combined with Pandey to get their innings back on track, ensuring the run rate didn’t get out of hand before eventually closing out the match.

The hosts had earlier reached 330-7 thanks to centuries from Warner (122) and Mitch Marsh. Warner was forced to dig in after watching four teammates – Aaron Finch (6), Steve Smith (28), George Bailey (6) and Shaun Marsh (7) – all trudge back to the pavilion before the 22nd over.

But the Test opener, together with Mitch Marsh, quickly set about rebuilding the Australian innings with a 118-run partnership before warner holed out off Ishant Sharma’s bowling in the 39th over. Warner finished with nine fours and three sixes in 113 balls – surpassing Greg Chappell in Australia’s top-20 one-day scorers in the process – to register his fifth ODI ton.

Marsh then put the foot down to record his maiden ODI century off just 84 balls with nine boundaries and two maximums. Indian debutant Jasprit Bumrah, who captured the prize wicket of Steve Smith with his awkward right-arm action, was the pick of the bowlers with 2-40.

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Australia Record Run Chase at Gabba

A 50-50 call went India’s way but little else did as George Bailey again helped Australia pull off a record Gabba run chase, sealing a seven-wicket win in Friday night’s second one-day international.

Last game centurion Bailey (76 not out) helped Australia eclipse India’s 308-8 with six balls to spare in front of 28,851 fans.

Australia reached 309-3 after 49 overs to establish a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. India looked to have reversed their fortunes when man-of-the-match Rohit Sharma (124) was adjudged not out on 89 despite a big knick to Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Made. It flew in the face of captain MS Dhoni’s view after the opening ODI loss that India were getting the raw end of 50-50 calls from umpires as payback for the team’s ongoing refusal to use the Decision Review System.

But India did not have much more luck, dropping Shaun Marsh four times as he set up the chase with a 145-run opening stand with Aaron Finch (both 71). India still gave themselves a sniff when Umesh Yadav bowled last game centurion Steve Smith (46) to reduce Australia to 3-244 in the 41st over. But Bailey picked up where he left off from his 112 in the first ODI to help Australia pull off the highest limited-overs run chase at the Gabba. The previous best was Australia’s 9-301 in January 2014 against England.

It marked the second straight game Australia had comfortably reeled in a 300-plus target set by India. Finch and Marsh put on Australia’s equal fifth-highest ODI opening partnership against India. Finch was magnificently caught by a diving Ajinkya Rahane at long on in the 25th over.

India had to try even harder to dismiss Marsh. Replacing David Warner (paternity leave), he was dropped on 19 and 69 and offered difficult chances on 22 and 57. His good fortune ran out in the 30th over when another simple chance was finally taken, this time off the recalled Ishant Sharma.

Earlier, Sharma backed up from his unbeaten 171 in Perth to notch the highest ODI score by an Indian opener at the Gabba and equal-fourth biggest overall at the Brisbane venue. He also shared a 121-run third-wicket stand with Rahane (89) and a 125-run second-wicket partnership with Virat Kohli (59).

James Faulkner (2-64) and Joel Paris (1-40) reeled in India, who lost 6-75 in the final 10 overs including four in the last two. The third ODI will be played on Sunday in Melbourne.

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De Villiers Confirms Retirement Thoughts

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New South African captain AB de Villiers said Wednesday he was fully committed to leading the team in the next two Tests against England, but confirmed there was “a bit of truth” in rumours he was considering retirement.

“For two or three years I’ve been searching for the right answers to play a little less cricket in one way or another, to keep myself fresh and enjoying the game,” he said.

De Villiers, 31, admitted: “Every now and then I find I am not enjoying myself as much as I should be. I’ve been talking to a few people and obviously that’s leaked.”

De Villiers was speaking ahead of the third Test against England which starts at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday — the first time he has spoken directly to journalists since an article appeared in a local newspaper claiming he was thinking of quitting.

“I’m still very committed to the job,” he said. “The two Test matches now is all that I am focusing on. There’s a nice big break of six months before we play Test cricket again. Lots of things can happen before then. But for now I am as committed as I can be and very hungry to make a success of these two Test matches.”

De Villiers acknowledged that big-money Twenty20 tournaments around the world were tempting for players.

“I think it’s a going concern for the ICC (International Cricket Council) to find the right sort of structure to keep all the guys fresh. International cricket is the main cricket you want to play, especially Test cricket.

“There are big tournaments going on around the world and some of them you can’t ignore because financially they make a huge difference in our lives.

“But international cricket comes first and one or two things will have to happen in the future in order for that to happen.”

De Villiers said although he hoped to instil his own brand of energy into the team, the atmosphere in the camp remained “normal” following the resignation of Hashim Amla as captain after the second Test last week.

“I’m very excited but we’ve got a very stable team culture so not much has changed in the team set-up.”

He said being 1-0 down in the four-match series added to the pressure “to make a play” but said he looked forward to the challenge and said that extra responsibility made him feel more motivated.

“The nice thing about captaincy is you are completely focused on the team. Your personal performance is put aside and that is a good thing, more often than not,” he said.

De Villiers said he felt there had been a momentum shift when South Africa fought back for a draw in the second Test in Cape Town.

“I’ve played enough series to know that a little momentum shift like that doesn’t just happen. It’s a big thing in a big series so it’s up to us to make sure that we maintain that kind of momentum.”

He said he had looked at the Wanderers pitch and although it seemed drier than usual following a drought, he expected a fair contest between bat and ball.

“That excites me because we haven’t had much of that in the past few months.”

De Villiers said going in with four seam bowlers and no specialist spinner was an option because there were part-time spinners in the squad.

In addition, he hinted that hometown fast bowler, the strongly-built Hardus Viljoen, 26, might win his first Test cap.

“He excites me quite a lot. He bowls at very good pace, has got good control and has taken 10 wickets in two matches in a row for his franchise team.”

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South Africa Same for Final Test

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South Africa have named an unchanged 16-man squad for the last two Tests against England.

Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott were ruled out of the drawn match in Cape Town through shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively, but will join the team in Johannesburg and both are expecting to be available. Nevertheless, their replacements in the XI for the Cape Town Test, Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris, have been retained, with uncapped Hardus Viljoen taking the seam bowling ranks to six.

JP Duminy and Rilee Rossouw are included as the spare batsmen in a squad captained by AB de Villiers, who has taken charge on a short-term basis following Hashim Amla’s resignation at Newlands.

“We were highly encouraged by the performance put up by the Proteas at PPC Newlands,” said convenor of selectors Linda Zondi. “The very fact that they were nearly able to force a win after conceding 600 runs on the first innings speaks volumes for the character of this group of players.

“We feel we have all our bases covered and also the options that will enable the team to exploit whatever conditions they encounter.”

South Africa have also named a 14-man squad for the five match one-day international series against England. It contains 11 members of the Test squad, augmented by Farhaan Behardien, Imran Tahir and David Miller.

South Africa squad for third and fourth Tests v England AB de Villiers (c), K Abbott, H Amla, T Bavuma, Q de Kock, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, D Elgar, M Morkel, C Morris, D Piedt, K Rabada, R Rossouw, D Steyn, S van Zyl. H Viljoen.

South Africa squad for one-day international series v England AB de Villiers (c), K Abbott, H Amla, F Behardien, Q de Kock, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, I Tahir, D Miller, M Morkel, C Morris, K Rabada, R Rossouw, D Steyn.

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Scorchers Wacca Sydney Sixers

Two-time defending champion Perth Scorchers are shaping again as the Big Bash League team to beat following a thumping nine-wicket win over the Sydney Sixers at the Waca Ground.

The Scorchers’ trademark defensive bowling was outstanding after the Sixers elected to bat first. The visitors posted a total of just 112-8 and the Scorchers had no trouble chasing it down. Having lost just one wicket the last two games chasing smallish totals, the Scorchers again got the job done with undefeated Shaun Marsh (63 from 54) and Michael Klinger (28 from 22) setting up the run chase. The Scorchers reached 114-1 to win with nine wickets and 33 balls in hand.

Since losing the opening game to the Adelaide Strikers, the Scorchers have beaten the Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades and now Sixers to move to the top of the BBL having played in all four previous finals winning the last two. After winning two of their first three games, the Sixers have lost three straight to be falling out of semi-final contention.

Sixers captain Nic Maddinson won the toss and decided to bat. Despite 47 from 45 by Michael Lumb, they lost wickets consistently to be behind eight ball. The Scorchers’ bowlers David Willey (3-22), Andrew Tye (2-21), Jason Behrendorff (2-24), Joel Paris (1-23) and Brad Hogg (0-20) were outstanding.

Defending 112 was always going to be difficult particularly with the form Marsh and Klinger have been in. The Scorchers openers put on a 65-run stand before Klinger fell for 28 in the 10th over. Marsh continued on from there with an unbeaten 49-run partnership with Marcus Harris (15 from 11) to secure the win.

The Scorchers next play the Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday at Adelaide Oval. The Sixers have eight days until hosting the Brisbane Heat at the SCG. Willey was named man of the match for his three wickets for the Scorchers with the English all-rounder proud to be part of such a dominant team display.

“It was a great performance all-round,” Willey said. “Credit to the lads, we are bowling together as a unit and that makes it very difficult for the opposition when all four of us seamers and obviously Hoggy as well are putting it in the right areas to make it difficult to score. It was a good all-round performance from the bowlers and then the batters did their job to knock it off comfortably.”

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Australia Close to Windies Whitewash

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Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja scored half-centuries to crush a defiant West Indies fightback, pushing Australia’s lead to an imposing 459 runs at the close of day three of the second Test on Monday.

The pair’s composed 79-run stand tempered the West Indies’ cheer after their bowlers took early wickets in the wake of some doughty tail-end batting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After Khawaja’s dismissal for 56, Smith and Mitchell Marsh guided Australia to 179 for three at stumps in glorious sunshine. Skipper Smith was unbeaten on 70 with all-rounder Marsh on 18.

Replying to Australia’s mammoth first innings declaration at 551-3, West Indies were bowled out for 271 on the stroke of tea, but not without frustrating the Australian bowlers for the first two sessions.

After resuming the day on 91-6, debutant fast bowler Carlos Brathwaite rode his luck to make a rousing 59 on debut, with Darren Bravo anchoring the tail with a patient 81.

Although trailing by 280 runs, the West Indies bowlers took heart from the defiant rearguard action and captain Jason Holder had opener Joe Burns caught in the slips for four.

After engaging in some heated exchanges with opener David Warner, Holder caught the pint-sized vice captain for 17 in the gully to give Brathwaite his first Test wicket and reduce the Australians to 46-2.

Brathwaite’s celebrations bowled his captain over but Khawaja, one of four first innings centurions for Australia, teamed up with Smith to put down the minor insurrection before he was caught behind attempting an audacious ramp shot.

It was a memorable day for Brathwaite, who was dismissed twice by paceman James Pattinson but reprieved by the television umpire.

He was bowled attempting an ugly heave on 13, then caught at long leg for 50, but was called back when replays showed Pattinson had over-stepped the crease on both occasions.

Australia are bidding to wrap up the series 2-0 with victory in Melbourne after winning the opener in Hobart.

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