Josh van der Flier dropped from Ireland squad

Joe Schmidt has dropped Josh van der Flier from the Ireland team to face Scotland, bringing in Munster's Tommy O'Donnell in his place.

There is no room for the Leinster flanker on the bench either as Rhys Ruddock again provides back row cover.

Rory Best has managed to shake off a calf injury to maintain his place and, with Rob Kearney still sidelined, the team is otherwise unchanged from the 15 that beat Italy.

Richardt Strauss and Eoin Reddan come in for Seán Cronin and Kieran Marmion on the bench.

Finlay Bealham - who made his debut against Italy last week - drops out of the matchday 23 to make room for Cian Healy.

Schmidt admitted Van der Flier would have been fit for selection, but was carrying several minor injury complaints.

Munster flanker O’Donnell missed the World Cup with a dislocated hip, but has battled back to full fitness and form, and now Schmidt believes he can make a big impact this weekend.

“Josh has shipped a couple of knocks in the last two games, and he got a bump in training on Monday,” said Schmidt.

“I think they’ve been pretty attritional for Josh going back to back in his first two Test matches.

“He would be fit to play but at the same time is carrying a few knocks.

“Conversely Tommy has trained incredibly well.

“He hasn’t had the luckiest of preparations with us in previous times.

“And we’re looking forward to contributing a really athletic, combative performance this weekend.

“It’s bumps and bruises, he’s involved himself a lot, his contact work has been high so we just felt it was pertinent to give him a rest and give Tommy an opportunity.

"We've tried to balance opportunity with continuity across the course of the Six Nations and we hope that will bear fruit in future.

“Rory Best trained fully today too, and showed no ill effects of the tight calf that he had on Monday.”

Ireland: Zebo, Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, Earls, Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best, Ross, Ryan, Toner, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip. Replacements: Strauss, Healy, White, Dillane, Ruddock, Reddan, Madigan, McFadden.