“Anything can happen” – Andy Farrell backs England to cause Six Nations upset in Paris

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell spoke to the media at the Aviva Stadium after naming his squad to take on Scotland with a triple crown on the line this weekend. The Ireland head coach named four changes for Saturday's Six Nations Triple Crown decider.

With the triple crown on the line this weekend, there's also potentially everything to play for, with three teams still in the running for the championship. If England beat France, any Ireland bonus-point win over Scotland would win it the championship. However, Steve Borthwick's side is coming off a long rut with 3 defeats in a row against Scotland, Ireland, and Italy last weekend.

"Of course they do. 100%. I mean. Everyone knows the players that they've got and the coaching staff that they've got and what they're capable of. When a team's a little bit wounded as well, anything can happen. But at the same time, the French are hurting as well and they're in the driving seat as far as a home game and they know they can win a championship."

"So it's a fantastic position to be in as a neutral, isn't it, watching the Six Nations this weekend? But nothing would surprise me."

With everything to play for this weekend, Farrell named four changes to the squad that took on Wales. Included in those changes is Tommy O'Brien coming in for Jacob Stockdale, with James Ryan being left out of the squad due to injury.

24-year old Darragh Murray came in to replace him, potentially making his first Six Nations appearance this weekend.

"He's, well, first and foremost, he's a great rugby player. He's obviously very young and he's had a very patient campaign so far. He's been an unbelievable teammate in how he's helped prepare everyone else through this Six Nations. It just shows, doesn't it, the attritional side of the game, which is the Six Nations, that anything could jump out at you."

"It just shows if you prepare well and keep showing everyone that you belong at this type of level, then people will put their trust in you. And that's certainly what's happened for us with Darragh this week."

Alongside Murray. The 24-year-old Connacht teammate, Bundee Aki, is set to return to the Ireland squad this weekend following a long exile due to suspension.

The 35-year-old, who missed Connacht's URC game against Zebre and Ireland's fixtures against France, Italy, and England, was banned by the URC's disciplinary committee for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match officials.

"Yeah, when it comes to big games, there's a twinkle in some people's eyes. You just know he's going to turn up. Again, I've been there and done that as far as big weeks and preparation and all of that. And on top of that, he's been pretty good for us coming off the bench as far as energy is concerned, etc. I'm sure he'll bring more of that on Saturday."

Also named in Ireland's starting lineup this weekend was Munster's Jack Crowley, for the third consecutive week since Sam Prendergast was dropped against Italy.

After coming in to help lead Ireland to victory over England at Twickenham, Crowley has made the Ireland shirt his own, despite criticism from Ireland legend and La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara.

"Yeah, I think Sam's been first class as far as his demeanour around the place. He's been exactly how you would have thought. When you've heard the lads speak about how they help each other prepare. Sam's been top draw as far as that's concerned. You're always watching because we talk about being the best teammate that you possibly can be."

"I mean, obviously, ROG is there to be listened to because he's been there and worn the T-shirt, hasn't he? But... I don't actually know, what has been said, but I know that he does an article and I'm sure it's good read for everyone because his opinion is granted, isn't it, because he's earned the right to it."

In order to set up this weekend's blockbuster clash at the Aviva Stadium, Scotland first had to take down an undefeated France side travelling to Murrayfield.

Putting 50 points on last year's Six Nations champions, Gregor Townsend's side were able to dominate by getting the ball out of their hands. Compared to France's 146 passes, Scotland completed 214, with 154 carries to France's 111.

"I think they certainly did that in the other big game against England as well. They attacked the game from the off, played quick, super quick ball as far as the breakdown is concerned.

"The forwards are always punching onto the ball and it hurts to stop, but we all know why they're trying to do that, to give a fantastic back line some room to play the rugby that they want to play."

"As far as Scotland's concerned, the genuine respect that we have every single year. We say it the whole time, they're a fantastic squad and a fantastic team and given any type of room to be able to play the game that they want to play, they'll beat anyone in the world on the day as they've proven."

Scotland's backline, which dismantled France at Murrayfield last weekend, nearly all featured in some capacity during the 2025 Lions Tour of Australia, with Andy Farrell as their head coach.

With Finn Russell starting the first test, Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu also both started, with Darcy Graham coming in as injury cover, making his Lions debut.

During the week, the Scotland winger, who scored twice against France, made the bold claim that Ireland were there for the taking this weekend. A statement that went viral in the media.

"Yeah, he's entitled to his opinion, first and foremost. He's a great lad, Darcy, actually. Obviously, I got to know him in the Lions there, so it's how he feels and obviously how the squad feels, and rightly so in my opinion. They were outstanding last week against France, and we've been preparing for another Scottish performance like that."

"Getting to know him (Finn Russell), first and foremost, he's a great lad. He cares about his rugby a lot more than people think he does. He knows what he's after, and he understands how to run a team. You can see why he's been so successful and why people rate him so highly."

Ireland have won their last eight matches against Scotland in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, with their last defeat in this fixture coming at Murrayfield in 2017.

Additionally, Scotland has won just once in Dublin in the Men’s Six Nations, that victory coming back in 2010 in Ireland’s final game at Croke Park. However, with a triple crown on the line, this weekend would be the perfect time to break that streak.

"But for us, like I said before, what a story for Scotland. We always say when we're in this type of situation, where there's a trophy on the line, it's fantastic for us that we put ourselves in that type of situation and see if we can perform when it matters."