Key events
“As an Irish supporter, I am very nervous about this,” emails Olive.
Michael Aylwin
In a not unfamiliar plotline Scotland enter the penultimate round of the Six Nations desperate for a win. Refreshingly, this time such a result would mean not the avoidance of a wooden spoon but a tilt at their first championship of the century – a first Six Nations title, full stop.
Gregor Townsend, the Scotland head coach, is asked how he plans to beat Ireland: “You’ve got to close to your best … you’ve got to win the contact … stop them getting in to ‘phase shape’ and getting confidence from that … and you’ve got to get quick ball … and you’ve got to be consistent right through the 80 minutes.
“They are very cohesive as a team … we feel the England game, and the Wales game, we were ‘in place’ in terms of effort and energy … we want our players to go for it if there are opportunities.
“Stuart Hogg [who wins his 100th cap] has been massive for Scotland … he has been flying at training this week … we really hope it’s a great day for him.”
Teams
The Gray brothers, Jonny and Richie, form the second row for Scotland. Matt Fagerson switches to No 6, with Jack Dempsey coming in at No 8. Stuart Hogg wins his 100th cap.
Johnny Sexton is back at fly-half for Ireland, one of six changes: Garry Ringrose, Tadhg Furlong, Conor Murray, Dan Sheehan, Peter O’Mahony are also back in the starting XV.
Scotland: Hogg, Steyn, H Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell, White, Schoeman, Turner, Fagerson, R Gray, J Gray, Fagerson, Ritchie, Dempsey. Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, Berghan, Cummings, Watson, Price, Kinghorn, Harris.
Ireland: Keenan, Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Sexton, Murray, Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, O’Toole, Baird, Conan, Gibson-Park, R Byrne, Henshaw.
Preamble
Ireland’s second-round victory against France in Dublin may yet prove to be the match of the tournament, while France’s 53-10 destruction of England at Twickenham will surely provide the most jaw-dropping scoreline. Considering what is at stake, however, this afternoon’s game at Murrayfield has the potential to elevate this year’s Six Nations to a whole new level.
Should Scotland win and seal the triple crown, Gregor Townsend’s team will be one of three teams in contention for the title next Saturday. An Irish success, on the other hand, would put Andy Farrell’s side in a commanding position at the top of the table before the final round, with a potentially grand slam-sealing date at home against England to come.
Can the Scots take their first win against Ireland since 2017, and in the process set up an authentically Super Saturday™? We are about to find out.
Kick-off: 3pm
