WHILE the international rivalry between Ireland and Scotland has its roots firmly embedded in over 120 years of history, Saturday's meeting at Lansdowne Road will be like no other in the 107 occasions the countries have faced each other.

It is perhaps ironic that the countries should meet in the match that will for both officially herald the age of the professional rugby union player. For over a century Scotland was regarded as the ultimate bastion of the amateur ethic in the game. Indeed, the label "ultra-conservative" was invariably attached to the Scottish Rugby Union, and it was one which successive generations of SRU officials wore with a certain degree of pride. Gone are those days.

Perhaps an illustration both of this and of how difficult it was to get even a second national jersey was the experience alleged to have been endured by the late Jock Wemyss (who became a distinguished commentator on the game). He was first capped for Scotland before the outbreak of the first World War. When he was capped again, in 1920, after internationals were resumed, he requested a national jersey; he was asked where was the jersey he was given in 1914.

Since the first match between the countries - in Belfast on February 19th, 1877, the first international played in the city - there have been many significant and historic happenings, and no little controversy on occasion, attached to the annual fixture. It is, too, the third oldest pairing in international rugby, predated only by matches between England and Scotland and England and Ireland.

It was against Scotland, again in Belfast, that Ireland recorded their first win in international rugby. That was in the fourth meeting between the countries on February 19th, 1881. Ireland won by a dropped goal to nil, with John Bagot, who played for Dublin University and later Lansdowne, claiming the crucial points. Remarkably, that was only the second time Ireland had scored in an international match, and the first time against the Scots.

Ireland had to wait until 1894 for their next win over the Scots, and that was an historic year for Irish rugby, the first season the Triple Crown and Championship were won. Ireland beat Scotland 5-0 at Lansdowne Road, the winning try coming in the dying seconds. That was, in fact, the first time that Scotland played Ireland at Lansdowne Road, all the home matches against the Scots had been played in Belfast prior to that.

That season was significant in another important respect too. For the first time Ireland played with eight forwards and seven backs, reducing the pack by one and playing four three-quarters.

Meanwhile, in 1885, the match in Belfast had been abandoned after 30 minutes, and the Scots insisted that Ireland travel to Edinburgh a fortnight later for the rematch, The hosts won easily. Those who played in the abandoned match were not awarded caps, thus 30 players who represented their country in an official international were denied their due recognition. It was a commentary on the times.

But while Scotland had dominated the series prior to that famous win in 1894, the Ireland wins grew more frequent. There was a draw in 1896, and Ireland next beat Scotland - and everyone else in 1899 - to win, the Triple Crown for a second time. Ireland's 9-3 win over Scotland in Inverleith, Edinburgh, was, too, the first time Ireland had beaten Scotland away.

Thereafter wins over the Scots became much more frequent, even though it was not until 1948 that Ireland again won a Triple Crown. The Scots had a good side in the early 1920s, a side which included Eric Liddell, the Olympic champion whose exploits were featured in Chariots of Fire. He scored a try in 1922, and played at Lansdowne Road the following year. They had a great side in 1925, and with France now in the Championship, Scotland did the Grand Slam for the first time that year.

In 1926, Ireland shared the championship with the Scots and became the first country to win at Murrayfield, beating the Scots 3-0 with a try from Jack Gage, who later emigrated to South Africa and played for the Springboks. That was the first of three successive wins over Scotland.

Ireland lost in 1929, but the following season won again at Murrayfield in a match in which Eugene Davy, still happily with us, scored three tries in a blistering 20-minute spell as Ireland won 14-11.

In 1933, Scotland won the Triple Crown at Lansdowne Road in a match which had to be postponed from its original February date until April 1st because Lansdowne Road was covered in snow. Ireland again achieved a hat-trick of wins in the 1930s, but it was immediately after the second World War that Ireland enjoyed their most productive spell against Scotland.

When the championship was resumed in 1947 Ireland began what became a record nine successive wins over Scotland. Ireland's golden era embraced part of that sequence when the Grand Slam was achieved for the only time in 1948, the Triple Crown and Championship won in 1949 and the Championship again in 1951.

Ireland recorded their highest total to date against Scotland at Murrayfield in 1953, winning 26-8. Seamus Byrne scored three tries in that match. Scotland broke the losing sequence in 1955, but Ireland then recorded four wins in a row between 1956-59. Thus 13 wins in 14 matches.

Ireland had five wins in a row between 1967-71. In 1972, Scotland and Wales refused to travel to play Ireland in Dublin, politically motivated decisions that caused major controversy. England had no such inhibitions the following year. Ireland travelled as per schedule to Scotland in 1973 and normal relations were resumed.

Ireland won in 1974 and claimed the championship, then drew the following year. In the 1980s, Ireland won in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985 - a Triple Crown year, after the Scots had scored a record 32-9 win in Dublin in 1984 - and in 1988.

That win in 1988 was the last by Ireland over Scotland, who have won seven of the last eight matches, including a World Cup match at Murrayfield in 1991. Ireland's best result against the Scots since 1988 was the 6-6 draw in Dublin two years ago.

That is the most unproductive spell Ireland has endured against the Scots for over 100 years. It is not since the early 1890s that Scotland enjoyed a similar unbeaten spell against Ireland, when Scotland won 11 times in a row between 1882 and 1892. I cannot think of a greater motivating factor for Ireland next Saturday than to arrest the recent trend and get the championship challenge off on the right note. Not to mention the £1,000 win bonus.