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• Joe Schmidt has named his Irish team to take on Scotland this weekend with Ulster’s Iain Henderson handed a start in the second row.
• Staying with rugby and St. Michael’s claimed the Leinster Senior Cup after victory over St. Gerard’s at Donnybrook.

Tommy Dickson; ©INPHO / Tommy Dickson/INPHO Tommy Dickson; ©INPHO / Tommy Dickson/INPHO / Tommy Dickson/INPHO

• Meanwhile, history was made in the Munster Senior Cup as Bandon qualified for the semi-finals for the very first time.
• Gavan Hennigan has completed his monstrous 5000km solo row across the Atlantic Ocean and broke Irish records on his way to finishing third at the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
• 4 March is the date when Katie Taylor returns to the ring. The Bray native continues her professional career with a slot on the undercard of David Haye and Tony Bellew’s heavyweight bout at London’s O2 Arena.

• Wexford hurler Lee Chin is the latest player to try his hand at AIB’s ‘The Toughest Trade’ and will head to Vancouver to spend time with the city’s NHL team, the Canucks.

Away

• Here’s what Ireland will be facing at Murrayfield on Saturday as Vern Cotter makes three changes to his Scottish side.
• It’s a new-look England that will take on France in their Six Nation’s opener on Saturday with Eddie Jones making five changes.
• Former captain Sam Warburton starts for Wales in their clash with Italy, despite rumours he was set to lose his place.
• Former England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38, despite some ‘exciting offers’ from Britain and abroad.

Steve White Steve White

• According to reports in France, Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.
• Jose Mourinho, irritated by his side’s scoreless draw with Hull last night, has taken another dig at his Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp.

The Best Thing We Shared

Budweiser‘s commercial spot for this year’s Super Bowl is all about immigration and dramatises the personal journey of co-founder Adolphus Busch who was born in Germany but who travelled to America in the mid-19th century.

Where We Were Today

Dan Sheridan; ©INPHO / Dan Sheridan/INPHO Dan Sheridan; ©INPHO / Dan Sheridan/INPHO / Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Murray Kinsella and Ryan Bailey were present for the Irish rugby team announcement and to get the thoughts of Joe Schmidt.

On The Record

I think you could tell immediately that he had something different from the rest of his peers. He just had a rugby intellect as to what lines to run, he had nice hands. I remember him standing out. I think when you’re focussed on playing one of the Six Nations teams, you can only pay so much attention to the U20 opposition, but I do remember vividly thinking that this guy has got something special.”

Brian O’Driscoll talks to Murray Kinsella about the first time he saw a young Garry Ringrose in action.

The Fixture List

Rugby takes centre stage as we kick off a massive weekend. Here’s what to look out for.

Women’s Six Nations:

Scotland v Ireland, 6.35pm

U20 Six Nations:

Italy v Wales, 6pm 

Scotland v Ireland, 8.30pm 

Pro12:

Edinburgh v Munster, 7.35pm

Schools Rugby:

Gonzaga v Castleknock, 3pm 

Roscrea v Monkstown, 3pm 

Golf:

Dubai Desert Classic (Graeme McDowell and Paul Dunne in action)

Phoenix Open (Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington in action) 

Henderson, Jackson and O’Brien start as Joe Schmidt names team for Scotland

Gavan Hennigan completes 5000km solo row across the Atlantic Ocean