Jack Crowley in key role again as Ireland make three changes for Triple Crown showdown with Scotland

Jack Crowley continues at number 10 for Ireland in Saturday's crunch Guinness Six Nations clash against Scotland in Dublin, 2.10pm, but there are three changes from the side that beat Wales. 

Andy Farrell's charges can seal the Six Nations title in their final match, if France slip up against England in Paris later in the day, while the Triple Crown is also up for grabs. 

The Scots can also secure the big prizes and what would be a first Six Nations title for Gregor Townsend's side.

Farrell has turned to the core of his side that produced its performance of the season at Twickenham three weeks ago.

Left wing James Lowe, loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman and lock James Ryan are all injured but hooker Dan Sheehan, lock Joe McCarthy and openside flanker Josh van der Flier all return to the forward pack.

Ronan Kelleher drops to the bench, as does Nick Timoney to make way for the recalled players. Tadhg Beirne had been expected to revert to blindside flanker to accommodate McCarthy’s return but Ryan’s calf injury this week has seen the second row remain unchanged.

Scotland have named Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist as their new-look second row, with Zander Fagerson restored at prop.

Head coach Townsend has made three changes, two of them forced as second rows Gregor Brown (calf) and Scott Cummings (hamstring) have been ruled out through injury.

Edinburgh lock Gilchrist, 35, is set to win his 88th cap for his country, becoming Scotland's all-time record appearance-maker for a second row.

Front row Fagerson replaces D'Arcy Rae at tighthead, while the back row of Glasgow trio Matt Fagerson, vice-captain Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey remains unchanged.

Wing Darcy Graham will resume in an unchanged back line after becoming Scotland's all-time leading try-scorer with a brace in last week's thrilling 50-40 win against France.

IRELAND: 

Jamie Osborne (Leinster); Rob Baloucoune (Ulster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O’Brien (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Cealan Doris (Leinster, c).

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Craig Casey (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).

SCOTLAND: 

Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Ben White (Toulon); Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), George Turner (Harlequins), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Max Williamson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow).

Replacements: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), D'Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Alex Craig (Glasgow), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Bristol).