Ireland 43-21 Scotland (FT)
Right so, I’m off to have my dinner before coming back for the France game. We will be providing live updates to see if England can do Ireland a favour and hand them the title by winning in Paris.
Is it likely? Colour me cynical but we’ll see.
I’ll leave you for now with Gerry Thornley’s match report from the Aviva. Sink your teeth into this.
The trophy lift ⬇️
Not quite sure what to make of this. Dublin Airport getting in on the act...
Next up, John O’Sullivan is focusing on Ireland’s set-piece. The first try of the day came thanks to a scrum penalty. We weren’t typing that sentence in previous games as Italy and England made mincemeat of the Irish scrum.
Set piece. Ireland’s challenge was to improve at scrum time. Tick. Spectacularly. The Irish scrum resembled a bastion, not only immovable but able to “get a shoulder up” here and there, when looking to play off the scrum. Two minutes in, the first scrum, the collective in-take of breath from the home supporters was almost palpable. The roar came on the exhale.
— John O'Sullivan
Read John’s full analysis here.
[ Ireland’s once maligned scrum resembled a bastion against ScotlandOpens in new window ]
The post-match content from our writers at the Aviva is starting to come in. Here’s Johnny Watterson handing out his player ratings.
[ Ireland player ratings: Stuart McCloskey stands out as Ireland beat ScotlandOpens in new window ]
More praise for Stu McCloskey. He’s a serious contender for player of the tournament, albeit if France do a number on England we could easily see a French winner.
His last assist for Tommy O’Brien puts him in the lead for that stat in this competition.
A niche one for the crossover between fans of Irish rugby and The Simpsons, but I can’t resist...
A word for Ireland’s bench. Darragh Murray had a chargedown that built pressure and a score. Bundee Aki put in a big carry seconds before O’Brien’s first try which was assisted by a Ciarán Frawley offload. Nick Timoney had 4 carries and 8 tackles in 27 minutes.
The replacements killed the game after Scotland played their part in a humdinger of a third quarter as both sides went end-to-end.
We spoke about Ireland’s goal-kicking issues earlier on. Today, Jack Crowley out-performed his expected kicking points. Based on difficulty, Ireland were expected to notch 10 points via the boot. Crowley got 13.
Click into these graphics from Opta and have a bit of fun.
Some of the key stats on a day where Ireland’s clinical edge contrasted Scotland’s error count.
Defenders Beaten - Ireland 23 Scotland 27
Points per 22 entry - Ireland 4.7 Scotland 3
Handling errors - Ireland 5 Ireland 9
Turnovers conceded - Ireland 10 Scotland 14
Kicking metres - Ireland 535 Scotland 495
Quick ruck ball - Ireland 58% Scotland 35%
Speaking of Doris, he was named player of the match. He was good, don’t get me wrong. It was his best display on the ball in some time, his carrying regularly breaking the line and earning front foot ball.
He made the most carries of anyone with 16 while his 46 metres made led all forwards.
But Tadhg Beirne’s defensive display, for my mind, should have seen him win the award. Not that anyone particularly cares.
To be as comprehensive as possible on the permutations ahead of the rest of the day’s action:
Ireland will win the Six Nations IF
- England beat France. Even if the French get two losing bonus points (losing by fewer than 7 and scoring 4 tries), they will end up on 18 points in the table, one behind Ireland.
- France draw with England WITHOUT scoring four tries
France will win the Six Nations IF
- France beat England
- France draw with England and score four tries. In that case, Ireland and France are both on 19 points but a superior French points difference will see them home.
“It’s a rare day for an Irishman to support England,” notes Caelan Doris in his post match interview.
Allez les Blancs?
Full-time: Ireland 43-21 Scotland
Ireland win the Triple Crown
That’s four times in the last five years Ireland have bean the best of the four countries that contest this prize.
The title hopes are still alive, Ireland now three points ahead of France in the table. They need a favour from England to secure the Six Nations outright.
TRY IRELAND - TOMMY O’BRIEN
80 mins: Ireland finish with a flourish. Tuipulotu inexplicably drops the ball and Ireland make him pay.
McCloskey takes it, throwing a one-handed pass over the defender to the fast man. O’Brien, again, has too much pace for the cover as Ireland add some late gloss to the scoreline.
Last kick of the game, Crowley even converts the touchline conversion.
77 mins: Penalty Ireland. That is that. In many ways, the biggest feature of this Irish win is their ability to stop Scotland inside the 22. Beirne is the man involved in that ruck again, this time Timoney giving him a helping hand as they win a penalty right on their own line.
Beirne man of the match? Should be. Scotland’s two scores to keep this one close came while he was off the park for blood.
Craig Casey is on for Jamison Gibson-Park.
75 mins: A penalty sees Scotland maul inside the 22. They’re 5m out when it comes down but the ball is available. They have to score here to have any chance.
73 mins: Ireland win a penalty as Scotland fail to roll away inside the 22. This should be an easy decision to kick it, take the lead out to beyond two scores.
Yep, Crowley calls for the tee. This should be straightforward enough.
No mistake.
Ireland 36-Scotland 21
71 mins: The crowd is not happy as Steyn collides with Crowley in the air, the outhalf doing very well to hold onto possession.
Pearce is in quickly, blowing up for the penalty and making sure there are no afters. To be fair, Steyn was going for the ball and Crowley hasn’t landed awkwardly - penalty only.
TRY IRELAND - TOMMY O’BRIEN
68 mins: Breathing space for Ireland and it’s the bench with the impact. Aki gets over the gainline before Frawley - after a good pass from Crowley to pen half a gap - offloads beautifully to O’Brien. He has too much pace for Horne covering and that, you think, should be a game-winning score.
Crowley converts.
Ireland 33-21 Scotland
67 mins: Murray charges down a kick from Horne, on at 9 for Scotland. Scotland get it back but the second clearance isn’t great, Frawley running it back towards the 22. A score here would be big.
66 mins: Farrell has seen enough. Lots of changes here, Kelleher, Milne, Murray, Aki and Frawley are all on for Sheehan, O’Toole, McCarthy, Ringrose and Baloucoune. Osborne to the wing with Frawley at fullback.
63 mins: Tadhg Beirne is back for Ireland after his blood injury. Coincidence perhaps, but Scotland have been much more clinical inside the 22 with him off the park.
Scotland have dropped the kick-off and Ireland have it back inside the 22. This game continues at a breakneck speed...
Ireland spill at the base of a breakdown. Every defensive stop feels massive in this tit-for-tat battle.
TRY SCOTLAND - RORY DARGE
61 mins: This could be some finish. Scotland now go from inside the Ireland half, that pass - which again, could well have been forward - starting it all off as Steyn goes into the 22. From there, Scotland hold onto it well, Gilchrist giving one last plass close to contact to send Darge over.
Russell converts from a straightforward angle.
Ireland 26-Scotland 21
60 mins: Scotland are on the attack again as Russell’s long, flat pass hits Steyn in stride. It looked forward but Pearce says play on.
Play inside the Irish 22, this is relentless.
TRY IRELAND - DARRAGH MURRAY
57 mins: The new man has a score. Ireland build through phase after phase, going from a lineout on halfway all the way up to score.
It all started with a Doris break in midfield off the set-piece. From there, carriers made ground, breaking the gain line each time. Eventually, Murray picks, goes and scores.
Bonus point secured - an important consideration depending on results elsewhere.
Crowley converts.
Ireland 26-14 Scotland
54 mins: Ireland make another change. Nick Timoney is in, Josh van der Flier goes.
TRY SCOTLAND - FINN RUSSELL
53 mins: Phase after phase, Ireland’s forwards repelled Scotland’s. Russell gets it eventually close to the line and Sheehan can’t get across fast enough. Gibson-Park was preoccupied with the carriers wider out and Russell is able to dart over.
He’s not happy at being told that he was taking the conversion from the wrong spot...but that doesn’t make a difference. Wide conversion slotted, five point game.
Ireland 19-14 Scotland
51 mins: Beirne wins another turnover but Ireland had previously strayed offside. Play stops as Beirne has a gash on his head. With the way he’s been attacking breakdowns, Ireland need to keep him on the park.
He doesn’t stay. Off he goes for a blood sub, Darragh Murray on for his first Six Nations game.
Scotland will tap and go...
48 mins: Graham’s footwork there is sensational, taking himself into the Ireland half on kick return. O’Brien ends the carry with a big tackle but Scotland are on the attack with the advantage for a high tackle.
No advantage, back we go. Pearce might want to have a look at this. It’s Doris on Ashman - that’s the hit in question. Not a lot in it, TMO doesn’t intervene. Russell goes to the corner.
46 mins: This time Beirne does get the turnover, Fagerson exposed after a narrow carry. Another Scottish 22 entry comes up empty.
Four Irish turnovers ‘won’, according to the telly. Scotland have one.
45 mins: Ooh, Beirne wanted the ruck penalty but Luke Pearce told him to get out of there. This after Glichrist and White got their wires crossed, sending Scotland back towards their own 22.
A good kick chase does undo the damage, Scotland getting it back just inside the Ireland half.
43 mins: Ireland take their turn to make an error, Doris dropping a Gibson-Park pass. McCloskey then gives away a penalty for pushing White off the ball.
Russell finds touch just inside the Ireland half.
41 mins: We’re underway in the second half. Finn Rusell kicks things off, Tommy O’Brien claiming inside the 22 albeit he takes a big Darcy Graham hit for his troubles.
Ireland play a phase before clearing, Jamison Gibson-Park finding touch up towards halfway. Kinghorn takes the lineout quickly and Scotland look to attack, Russell making a decent half-break.
But he loses it in contact, Gibson-Park forcing another error.
We talked before the game about the importance of the battle of the 22s. Well, there are plenty of stats to sum this one up so far, but this is probably the most stark.
Ireland 22 entries - 4
Scotland 22 entries - 4
Ireland points per entry - 4.7
Scotland points per entry - 1.7
That clinical edge leaves Ireland one try short of a bonus point as the players come back out for the second half. That fifth match point could be crucial later on if England do Ireland a favour and beat France later on.
Has Stuart McCloskey been Ireland’s player of the Six Nations?
That Scottish score was ominous for Ireland, the defence showing no indication of being able to disrupt their ball.
Since then, though, it’s been a different story. McCloskey has dislodged the ball from Russell. O’Toole earned a turnover close to his own line after giving away the penalty that led to the field position. Fagerson was guilty of double movement as Beirne threatened a turnover.
Accuracy has completely deserted Scotland who have made four handling errors and conceded seven turnovers. Ireland, it should be said, are not far behind with three and six respectively. Andy Farrell’s men, though, have just been a tad more clinical when it matters.
Scotland’s try was a beauty in and of itself. The ball retention over 19 phases - particularly given what happened next - was incredible. Russell’s decision making was spot on. He got big carries off power men such as Schoeman. Eventually, the pressure told. It was like watching Ireland back in 2023!
A tale of Irish set-piece excellence so far. Tries one and three came straight off the training paddock, sucking in defenders to open gaps for Jamie Osborne and Rob Baloucoune. The latter came up with a storming finish to show off his pace and power.
In between, Dan Sheehan picked his moment nicely to peel off a maul and re-take the lead after Scotland levelled things early.
Half-time: Ireland 19-7 Scotland
Now Ireland spill in attack and, with the clock in the red, that’s all she wrote for a pulsating first half.
40 mins: Scotland’s lack of accuracy is astonishing, considering what we saw from them last week. Jones has Kinghorn on the short line and Tuipulotu out the back but he passes to neither. The in between ball is spilled by Tuipulotu and Scotland cough up possession again.
39 mins: Initially, Baloucoune does so well to stay in play after taking a high ball. Steyn wrapped him up with some help and started dragging his opposite man towards touch, only for Baloucoune to show some strength to get to deck.
He does, though, spill on the ground, meaning Scotland get possession anyway with a scrum.
38 mins: Wow, McCloskey has just mercilessly run over the top of Tuipulotu. Easier said than done. The collisions phase after phase are just ferocious, surely this intensity can’t last.
Crowley kicks in behind, nicely finding touch to pin Scotland inside their own 22.
36 mins: Ireland continue to disrupt Scottish ball, this time McCarthy winning a lineout against the head. Gilchrist is then pinged for a deliberate knock-on as Ireland try to play away - penalty only, no card.
36 mins: Ireland’s set-piece attack has been good so far but it nearly costs them a score there. Baloucoune and Gibson-Park get their wires crossed, leading to a loose ball and hack downfield.
Baloucoune misses the bouncing ball back inside his own half, nearly giving Kinghorn a chance to kick ahead and score. Van der Flier’s workrate is good, tracking back to cover the error. Ireland clear.
34 mins: That’s a shocker. Scotland set to box but decide to play and go wide instead. But Ireland are well stocked in the backline, allowing O’Brien to rush up and pressure the pass.
Dempsey tries to find Steyn in the wide channel but the defensive pressure forces a forward pass. Now Ireland have a scrum close to the Scottish 22.
33 mins: Crowley finds space with a clever kick in behind. A wicked bounce takes it away from the chase, though, and into the arms of Kinghorn. Scotland clear.
30 mins: Scotland will get another chance. Russell puts in a clever chip in behind, finding space inside the 22.
O’Brien is tracking from the opposite wing to deal with it but it skips awkwardly, hitting the shin and going into touch. Scotland ball inside the 22.
Chance gone. Scotland give away a penalty for double movement, Fagerson with a roll on the floor that stopped Beirne from competing. Beirne lets him know about it once the penalty is given, roaring in Beirne’s face.
Earlier in the piece, Ireland once again stopped the Scotland maul from getting momentum.
27 mins: Big chance upcoming for Scotland. Rory Darge gets in over the ball to win a penalty inside Ireland’s half, allowing Russell to kick into the 22.
Big moment, though, from O’Toole. He makes up for his penalty by winning the ball back on the floor. It’s then unplayable and Ireland get a scrum.
25 mins: O’Brien is chasing kicks well here. This one he takes on the bobble, regathering to avoid a knock, leads to an attack close to the 22.
A crossing penalty kills the attack but Sheehan, of all people, is in the backfield to acrobatically stop Russell’s kick from finding touch. Another error from Scotland’s talisman...
23 mins: Now Russell has a kick charged down. Scotland recover the ball but it’s been a tricky opening quarter for the outhalf.
22 mins: Russell tries a box-kick with Steyn in space but he’s just put it out of reach of his wing and into touch.
Russell’s last two touches have been errors - the spill inside the 22 under pressure from McCloskey and now this.
TRY IRELAND - ROB BALOUCOUNE
20 mins: Speed kills, and Ireland have a proper flier. A set-play off the scrum, Ireland draw the midfield defense with Ringrose and Osborne threatening narrow carries. The ball goes out the back to McCloskey - another man who sucks in defenders - who throws a bit, looping ball to Baloucoune.
A footrace ensues. Baloucoune vs Graham and the Ulster man wins it to the corner.
Crowley misses the wide conversion.
Ireland 19 Scotland 7
18 mins: That looks bad. Turner looks to make a tackle on Doris and comes up very wobbly and woozy. The game stops for a head injury.
God, that is nasty.
It was his own man swinging round as they both tried to make a tackle. Head-on-head contact. Turner is gone for a HIA, I’d be surprised if we see him again. Ewan Ashman is on.
17 mins: Turnover for Ireland. Joe McCarthy breaks through the middle of a maul, with help from Tadhg Beirne and Caelan Doris, to hold it up and win a scrum. Remember, Scotland’s first choice locks are injured.
15 mins: Ireland survive. Scotland look to go narrow and the forwards just about repel them. When they go wide, McCloskey hits Russell and forces a loose ball.
Crowley’s clearing kick is a belter, a somewhat fortunate bounce finding touch inside the Scotland half. The Scots are annoyed since they want to go quick but are called back - there were enough men there to form the lineout.
14 mins: Now Scotland get an attack inside the 22 courtesy of a silly penalty. Caelan Doris kicks the ball out of Ben White’s hand, thinking it was loose. Russell kicks down the line brilliantly.
TRY IRELAND - DAN SHEEHAN
11 mins: This could be checked, Sheehan might have spilled it over the line.
A maul doesn’t make a whole load of ground, but Sheehan times his carry off the back perfectly. The gap opens up, he goes through and ignore me, the grounding is fine.
Crowley bends the conversion over nicely.
Ireland 14 Scotland 7
10 mins: Silly penalty from Graham, caught offside near the breakdown. Ireland might go for the posts... no. They’re back in the corner. Crowley gets it to within 5m, he flirted with the corner flag but he just about gets it right.
TRY SCOTLAND - DARCY GRAHAM
7 mins: 19 phases of play does for Scotland. Russell is involved a few times, fizzing one pass across Baloucoune to get Turner into space. Schoeman makes a good bust inside the 22 and once they go wide, Graham is in. Brilliant.
Russell converts from out wide. This looks like a belter of a game.
Ireland 7 Scotland 7
6 mins: Scotland are threatening in response to the score. Dempsey had a big carry to get over halfway and now they’re building. Russell has gone wide a few times, Ireland bending but not breaking so far.
TRY IRELAND - JAMIE OSBORNE
4 mins: An excellent set play. Ireland go off the top from the lineout, getting Baloucoune in off his wing. Doris then threatens to carry from 5 yards out, drawing in the defence, but instead goes out the back to Crowley. He then hits Osborne who goes under the posts untouched.
Straight off the training paddock.
Straightforward conversion for Crowley.
Ireland 7 Scotland 0
3 mins: Penalty Ireland! No relief after all. Fagerson stands up in the scrum under pressure from O’Toole and Sheehan. Ireland are aggressive and go to the corner - no kick taken.
2 mins: Ireland already make a dent with their first attack. Quick ball creates a gap out wide, which Crowley accelerates into. If he gave the pass, Baloucoune had a one-on-one inside the 22. You’d back the big man there but the pass never comes.
Crowley takes it into contact and spills, giving Scotland some relief with a scrum.
1 min: Right then, and they’re off! (I’ve spent too much time watching Cheltenham this week...)
Jack Crowley kicks long and into the Scotland 22. Ireland are attacking towards the main stand in the first half, not the small one down the other end. Scotland safely gather and clear their lines, albeit Jamies Osborne keeps it in play.
Gordon D’Arcy (of this parish these days) has just delivered the match ball to the referee Luke Pearce. He’s just finished a charity cycle from Scotland to the Aviva to raise funds for MND research. That’s a nice touch.
Ah lads. They’ve put Craig Casey, (5ft 5in) next to Darragh Murray (6ft 7in) for the anthems. The camera literally had to shudder down to get Casey in shot as they moved across the line. They’ve done him dirty there.
Real Paul O’Connell-Peter Stringer vibes from back in the day.
Right then. Teams are out. Super Saturday is nearly upon us - both sides perhaps not desperate for silverware, but it would end one side’s drought while offering reassurance that the other is retooling nicely. It’s been 27 years since Scotland won a trophy, the 1999 Five Nations title. They haven’t won a Triple Crown since 1990.
President Catherine Connolly is here to do all the handshakes etc.
There is a Six Nations trophy here. But it’s not the real deal which was badly charred in a vehicle fire a few weeks back. I wonder whose job it is to keep track of which trophy is the real deal and which is the fake for days such as this. I suppose it’s easy to differentiate between the current real one, given its current state...
In terms of Scotland themselves, this is worth a go from Tom English of the BBC who briefly moonlighted in these pages.
Scotland’s relationship with its head coach, Gregor Townsend, is fascinating. Pilloried and criticised to no end, that suddenly has evaporated courtesy of two wins over England and France. Another victory here would bring Scotland a first Triple Crown since 1990.
It’s hard to recall exactly when Scotland’s cyber rugby public turned on him, ditching the affectionate “Toony” moniker and replacing it with “Clownsend”, but when it happened it was unpleasant. For some, with no memory of how inspirational a figure he was as a player and nowhere near enough appreciation of some of the big days he has had as coach, it was just indiscriminate flak.
— Tom English
I’ve done my best to go this long without talking about ‘arrogant’ Scottish players. But we have to mention it given the history between these teams, not to mention Darcy Graham’s recent comments that Ireland “are there for the taking.”
Conor Murray has been writing for us about the Ireland camp’s perception of the Scots during his playing days. He doesn’t take the easy option of rage baiting us all, he does actually explain how this dynamic worked internally. It’s interesting stuff.
Graham’s confident remark is a timely reminder that they are largely the same group that failed to meet expectations throughout the 2020s. And yet, this is the best Scottish team I’ve ever seen.
— Conor Murray
You can read the column here.
One storyline potentially worth watching today is Ireland’s goal-kicking woes. According to their expected vs actual kicking success from the tee, they have been the worst side in the competition.
Take a guess at who the most accurate goal-kicker in Ireland is. Hint: they’re not in the current Ireland squad.
[ Ireland has a goal-kicking problemOpens in new window ]
As far as the Six Nations title is concerned, there are lots of permutations involved for the three sides in the hunt: Ireland, Scotland and France. The easiest bottom line is Ireland need to win today and hope for an English victory in Paris.
Ireland are currently on 14 points in third, with Scotland second on 16. France lead, also on 16 points, but are ahead of Scotland on points difference.
If Ireland win without a bonus point today, they end up on 18 points. They would then need France to lose to England with only one bonus point. A defeat by 7 points or fewer or by more than 7 but with four tries scored would leave France on 17 points - one behind Ireland. If France both score four tries and lose by fewer than 7, they end up on 18 points, level with Ireland. They would almost certainly win the title given their vastly superior points difference.
If Ireland win with a bonus point - by scoring four or more tries - they end up on 19 points. France cannot catch them if they then lose to England.
A draw between England and France would see France overtake an Irish victory without a bonus point. Both sides would be on 18 points and, again, France’s 63-point advantage in points difference should win out. If France score four tries in a draw, they end up on 19 points - which is where Ireland would be with a bonus point win against Scotland.
Draws, of course, are rare in rugby. But if there is one in Paris, Ireland need a stalemate that does not come with four French tries.
A French victory or an Irish defeat ends Ireland’s title hopes.
Sunshine in Dublin. Spring rugby at its finest.
Unsurprisingly, we have plenty of Six Nations reads to get your teeth into as we wait for kick-off. Let’s start with Gerry Thornley who has looked at Ireland’s find of the tournament, in terms of new frontline players.
As Brett Igoe points out in the stats graphic below, this player is a threat in both attack and defence, recording three tries and four turnovers so far in the Six Nations.
No prizes for guessing who he’s picked...
You can read the article here.
I think for too long we’ve been probably lacking that X-factor and speed that other teams are using. We just needed something different on the wing and my goodness, he’s provided it
— Gerry Thornley
There are world ranking permutations today, to go with all the silverware ones. It seems bizarre that France are behind Ireland in the official global pecking order but that could change this evening.
Given we are still some time out from kick-off, you’ve plenty of time to listen to our preview podcast. We got Scottish rugby correspondent from The Times, Mark Palmer, on to try and figure out if Scotland will finally break their 11-match losing run to Ireland or if this just the latest false dawn. Perfect for your Saturday morning walk with the dog.
Do Scotland have a genuine chance at breaking their 11-match losing run to Ireland?
For the stattos, this is brilliant. Brett is definitely worth a follow.
The battle of the 22s is the key area. Ireland are the best team in this year’s Six Nations at repelling sides inside their own 22, denying 69% of red zone entries from scoring.
Scotland, are the second best side at converting once inside the 22, doing so with 52.6% of attacks. The best with ball in hand? Ireland, scoring on 52.9% of attacks inside the 22.
Being the best at defending inside your own 22 and scoring inside the opposition’s is certainly a recipe for success.
As for the Scots, Kyle Steyn stays on the wing despite being carted off against France. He’s recovered from a nasty cut.
Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist form a new-look secondrow pairing while Zander Fagerson is back in at prop. Those changes in the pack are worth keeping an eye on. The tight five has historically been Scotland’s Achilles heel against Ireland and they’re without Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings (both injured) from the side that impressed against France.
Plenty of threats that backline still, Messrs Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones, Kinghorn and Graham (amongst others) threatening to run riot.
Here’s who’s playing. Always important, sure.
Ireland have made four changes to the team that beat Wales eight days ago, Andy Farrell continuing to show a willingness to tinker with a winning formula. That certainly has been a theme of this Six Nations, Ireland making 24 total changes to to their matchday squad in this campaign. According to Opta’s statto Jonny McCormick, that’s the joint most in any Six Nations run during the Farrell era (2019 being the other runner).
James Ryan is injured so Joe McCarthy replaces him in the XV and Connacht’s Darragh Murray comes onto the bench for a Six Nations debut. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Tommy O’Brien reprises his pacy double act with Robert Baloucoune after the two wings flew up and down Twickenham a few weeks ago.
Dan Sheehan is back in at hooker after a week off while Josh van der Flier is also back in the starting side.
This is it folks. Six weeks of rugby’s annual showpiece culminates in a silverware decider as a Scottish side once again comes to Dublin looking to break their Irish hoodoo.
Nathan Johns here to tell you what’s what as we build up to Ireland vs Scotland at the Aviva Stadium. Winner takes the Triple Crown and top spot in the Six Nations. For now, as far as the latter is concerned, with the destination of the trophy (a replica, after the original was burned a few weeks ago) dependent on France’s Parisian date with England later this evening.
Kick-off in Dublin is at 2.10pm. We’ll build up to the action right here.
