Andy Farrell has named his team to play Scotland in Murrayfield on Sunday and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss the line-up. There are six changes overall to the team that started against Italy. Johnny Sexton and Garry Ringrose return. Tadhg Furlong will make his first appearances of this Six Nations. Conor Murray starts at scrumhalf, Jamison Gibson Park is on the bench as is Robbie Henshaw who’re both set to feature for the first time in this 6 Nations. Don’t forget to join Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian Tracey for the post-match analysis show from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by BBC Scotland journalist Andy Burke to look ahead to Sunday's Six Nations clash at Murrayfield. Despite overseeing a number of big scalps against England and France during his tenure, Gregor Townsend has never beaten Ireland as Scotland head coach. Andy thinks Ireland's physicality has been a major problem for Scotland and they must match up on Sunday in that area to have a chance of winning. One player who will be key for Scotland is Finn Russell; Andy breaks down his interesting relationship with Townsend, which has seen the two fall out on a number of occasions. Scotland's 'arrogance', their strong centre partnership and their use of project players is all up for discussion too. Join Sinéad Kissane and Cian Tracey with the next Left Wing on Friday when they will have the latest team news and don’t forget there’s our post-match analysis show from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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Continuing the Left Wing’s countdown to Sunday’s Six Nations game between Scotland and Ireland, Sinéad Kissane spoke to a man who played outhalf for Scotland, and also for Connacht. Dan Parks won 67 caps with Scotland and as well as playing with Glasgow and Cardiff Blues, he made 51 appearances for Connacht after which he retired from professional rugby nearly nine years ago. Dan is living in Sydney where he’s still involved in rugby and Sinéad spoke to him about his playing days, his role in Scotland’s last win over Ireland in Dublin in 2010 and why he believes the flair moments from Finn Russell could be the key to unlocking and overcoming Ireland. All week the Left Wing is bringing you more episodes as part of the build-up to the big game. Will is getting the view from Scotland on Thursday from the BBC’s Andy Burke, Sinéad and Cian will have the latest team news on Friday, and there’s also post-match analysis from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster out-half Ian Madigan to look ahead to Scotland vs Ireland and discuss Ulster's season to date. Ian and Luke break down exactly what they like about how Ireland are playing at the moment, and Ian gives his out-half assessment of Scotland star Finn Russell ahead of Sunday's clash. Ulster have had a tumultuous season and Ian gives his an insight into the ups and downs as he targets a place in the match-day squad for their Champions Cup showdown with Leinster. The lads finish the show by giving their verdict on the big game - and all three are predicting an Ireland win. Join us all week for the build-up to Ireland’s clash against Scotland as we bring you additional Left Wing episodes with views from the Scotland camp, the latest team news and post-match analysis from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. And if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey look back on Ireland's dramatic win in Italy. It was far from easy in Rome, with Italy putting Ireland under a lot of pressure. The lads discuss the issues with Ireland's defence and ask whether the return of Garry Ringrose would shore things up ahead of Scotland. The bench impact, the enigma of Finn Russell and Leo Cullen's future at Leinster are up for discussion too. Listen out next week when the Left Wing brings you more shows right throughout the week in the build-up to Ireland’s game against Scotland. There will be a squad update episode on Monday, a special feature interview on Tuesday, Will and Luke’s in-depth analysis on Wednesday, plus the team news announcement on Thursday and immediate post-match analysis from Murrayfield right after the final whistle on the Saturday. And if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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Ireland have picked up their third successive bonus point win in this Six Nations, scoring five tries including two from Mack Hansen to beat an impressive Italy 34 points to 20 but the Italians asked plenty of questions of the Irish who did well to come through as they did. Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane from the Stadio Olimpico on the latest episode of the Left Wing podcast with their post-match analysis and reaction to the game. Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald will be back on Wednesday for the next episode of the Left Wing with their in-depth chat and discussion and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Cian Tracey discuss the Ireland team to face Italy. Ross Byrne and Craig Casey will make their first Six Nations starts at half-back - are they ready to lead the team in the absence of Johnny Sexton? Jack Conan gets the nod at number eight, and the lads are in agreement that he needs a big game to hold off Gavin Coombes in the matchday squad. Bundee Aki also returns to the starting team after two big cameos off the bench but Cian thinks that Stuart McCloskey is still the main man at number 12. Join the Left Wing on Saturday when Sinéad Kissane, Cian Tracey and Rúaidhrí O’Connor give their reaction and thoughts right after the final whistle from Rome. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Italy international Ian McKinley to look ahead to Ireland vs Italy. The Azzurri have made big strides in the last 12 months after beating Wales and Australia, and Ian breaks down why Italy have seen an upsurge in form over the last year. Ross Byrne is in line to feature against Italy and both Luke and Ian think he has a newfound confidence that bodes well for him going forward. Wales' potential Six Nations strike, the return of Joey Carbery and Tadhg Beirne's injury are all up for discussion too. Join us again on Thursday when Will and Cian Tracey will be discussing the announcement of the Ireland team on the next episode of the Left Wing. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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As part of the Left Wing’s countdown to Saturday’s Six Nations game between Italy and Ireland in Rome, Sinéad Kissane spoke to an Irishman with the inside track on the development of Italian Rugby. Stephen Aboud worked for 26 years with the IRFU in various roles including developing player pathways. In August 2016, he started working for the Italian Rugby Federation as the head of technical direction for the development of players and coaches. His contract with them finished in June last year but he gives some fascinating insights into the development of the game in Italy and why, despite the strong performances of their senior team, he thinks they are taking the wrong direction with the underage set-up which won’t bode well for the future. For more in-depth coverage of Ireland’s game against Italy, join Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald on Wednesday’s show when they’re joined by former Leinster and Italian international, Ian McKinley. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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Doubts over Johnny Sexton's fitness for Saturday's clash with Italy in Rome have resulted in Joey Carbery earning a recall to the Ireland squad and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on today’s Left Wing podcast with the latest. The Munster out-half, who started in their win over the Ospreys on Friday, returns to the squad for the first time since being sensationally dropped for the Six Nations. Kieran Treadwell and Scott Penny are also back on board as the growing injury toll hits Andy Farrell’s side. Ireland play Italy in Rome on Saturday in what will be Andy Farrell’s 35th game in charge of Ireland, that’s including the two Maori games last summer. Also, don’t miss tomorrow’s show when Sinéad interviews Stephen Aboud, the IRFU’s former technical director and Italian rugby’s former head of player and coaching development, for his insights into the clash with Italy. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.

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