Sheehan returns for Ireland and Scotland’s Ritchie passed fit for Rugby World Cup clash

PARIS — Dan Sheehan returns at hooker for top-ranked Ireland’s final Rugby World Cup pool match against Scotland on Saturday.

Second-placed Ireland has a four-point advantage over Scotland in Pool B and is the heavy favorite to book a quarterfinal spot. Scotland has an outside chance but has lost the past eight contests with Ireland.

Iain Henderson comes in at lock for James Ryan in the only other change from the side which beat defending champion South Africa 13-8 in a titanic encounter.

Sheehan sprained a foot ligament six weeks ago in the warmup win over England in Dublin. He was in contention to start against the Springboks but coach Andy Farrell held him from that ferocious clash.

He takes over from Ronan Kelleher at Stade de France, where flanker Peter O’Mahony will win his 100th Ireland cap. He becomes the 10th player to reach the milestone for Ireland, following in the footsteps of flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, scrumhalf Conor Murray and winger Keith Earls, who are all in the matchday 23 against Scotland.

“There’s no better man you’d want sat alongside you than Peter O’Mahony,” Farrell said. “He’s a selfless player who gives everything to his teammates and backs that up with consistent performances week in, week out.”

Sexton seconded that, and added that his friend is a somewhat mysterious figure.

“He’s very different to some of the other leaders. You don’t get to see the real Peter O’Mahony, he gives very little away in public,” Sexton said. “But he’s the life and soul of the group behind closed doors.”

Centers Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose start their 24th test together, while Ryan and Kelleher are both on the bench.

The Scots are in confident mood after their B side routed Romania 84-0. But now it’s time for…