Ireland Names Dan Sheehan as Captain for Six Nations Match Against Wales

Image credits: Source Link

Dan Sheehan has been named as the captain of the Ireland team for the upcoming Six Nations match against Wales, replacing the injured Caelan Doris. This will be Sheehan's first time captaining the team in a Test match, making him the 111th men's player to do so. The match is scheduled to take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, with kick-off at 14:15 GMT. Ireland is seeking to clinch the Triple Crown and move one step closer to the Grand Slam and a third successive title with victory over Wales.

The team has undergone several changes, with seven new players added to the lineup from the previous win at Murrayfield. Sheehan will be joined in the front row by Leinster tight-head prop Thomas Clarkson, who will make his first start, and loose-head prop Jack Boyle, who is set to make his Test debut off the bench. Jack Conan replaces Doris at number eight, while Joe McCarthy returns to the second row after recovering from a head injury. The backline has also seen changes, with Mack Hansen returning to the wing and Garry Ringrose named to start alongside Robbie Henshaw in midfield. Jamie Osborne will make his Six Nations debut at full-back, replacing Hugo Keenan.

The starting XV for Ireland includes: Osborne; Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan (capt), Clarkson; McCarthy, Beirne; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Conan. The replacements are: McCarthy, Boyle, Bealham, Ryan, C Prendergast, Murray, Crowley, Aki. Ireland's interim head coach, Simon Easterby, has expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform, stating that the selected players are "primed and ready to go". He also congratulated Jack Boyle on his inclusion in the match day squad, describing him as a "young forward with a bright future".

Wales, on the other hand, will be under the charge of interim head coach Matt Sherratt for the first time, after replacing Warren Gatland last week. The team has lost their past 14 Tests, and Ireland is favored to win. However, Sheehan has acknowledged that playing Wales in Cardiff is a significant challenge, describing the Principality Stadium as a "daunting" venue. He has stated that his sole focus is on helping Ireland to victory, and the team has been working on achieving an 80-minute performance. The match is expected to be a closely contested one, with both teams seeking to make a statement in the Six Nations championship. Rugby fans will be eagerly watching the match, which will be broadcast on BBC One and available to stream on the BBC Sport website and app.

The match schedule for the Six Nations championship is as follows:

• Saturday, 22 February: Wales v Ireland, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 14:15 GMT
• Saturday, 22 February: England v France, Twickenham Stadium, London, 16:45 GMT

Ireland's player statistics include:

• Dan Sheehan: 26 years old, hooker, 111th men's player to captain Ireland in a Test match
• Jack Boyle: set to make his Test debut off the bench
• Thomas Clarkson: making his first start for Ireland

The team rankings for the Six Nations championship are currently:

1. Ireland: 1st place, 2 wins, 0 losses
2. France: 2nd place, 1 win, 1 loss
3. Wales: 5th place, 0 wins, 2 losses

Ireland's Triple Crown and Grand Slam title hopes are still alive, and a win against Wales would be a significant step towards achieving these goals. The team's performance will be closely watched, and fans will be eager to see how they fare against a determined Welsh side.

ireland wal sheehan dan six caelan dori crown nation triple