Frawley Replaces Injured Keenan In Ireland Side Facing Wales In Six Nations – News18

DUBLIN: Hugo Keenan was ruled out by a knee injury and replaced by test rookie Ciaran Frawley at fullback in the Ireland side welcoming Wales in Six Nations rugby on Saturday.

Ireland made seven changes on Thursday after beating Italy 36-0 in the last round, but the starting XV that thumped France 38-17 in Marseille in the opening round was restored with the exception of Keenan.

He was injured against Italy and hasn’t fully recovered, but the coaches expect him to be available for the last two rounds against England and Scotland. Keenan has played more minutes for Ireland than anyone else since he burst on the test scene in 2021.

Frawley was originally picked to vie for flyhalf with Jack Crowley. But the fullback options were limited after Jimmy O’Brien and Mack Hansen were injured out of the tournament.

Around the squad since 2021, Frawley has about 40 minutes of test experience after coming off the bench in a World Cup warmup win against Italy and at the end of the France win.

Back into the side that is chasing consecutive Grand Slams have come tight forwards Tadhg Furlong and Tadhg Beirne, back-rowers Josh van der Flier and captain Peter O’Mahony, scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park and Bundee Aki.

In a return to a 6-2 split of forwards-backs reserves was uncapped Munster tighthead Oli Jager, who came back to Ireland last year after a decade in New Zealand, where he represented the Crusaders and Canterbury.

Wales was named on Tuesday, and the recall of flyhalf Sam Costelow was the only change to the team that started the 16-14 loss to England at Twickenham.

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Lineups:

Ireland: Ciaran Frawley, Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris, James van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Oli Jager, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Stuart McCloskey.

Wales: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams; Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Alex Mann, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Kieron Assiratti, Elliot Dee, Gareth Thomas. Reserves: Ryan Elias, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Will Rowlands, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)