Ireland v Scotland - a title on the line for both sides

Bonus points were brought into the Six Nations for the 2017 season to encourage attacking rugby, tries were to flow and fans would be rewarded with a more entertaining spectacle – what could possibly go wrong?

Well we could go into the final round of matches with Six Nations champion already decided if Ireland secure a four-try bonus point win over Scotland later today and England fail to do so against France.

When the fixtures were announced most were talking about the England v Ireland game at Twickenham on St. Patrick’s Day being a Grand Slam decider – not so.

Ireland are seeking their third Six Nations title in five years under Joe Schmidt, while England are looking for their third in a row.

But what about Scotland, their Championship challenge look extinguished in Cardiff after a 34-7 dismantling by Wales in Cardiff, but they’ve bounced back with victories over France and England. The Scots have not won in Dublin since 2010, but if they do so with a bonus point they go straight into the mix for the title, with Italy up on the last day.

Scotland’s upward trajectory has continued under Gregor Townsend, a 24-19 victory over Australia in Sydney last June, was followed by a 53-24 success over Michael Cheika’s side in the Autumn and they pushed New Zealand close too, before falling to a 22-17 defeat. “The darlings of European rugby” Eddie Jones quipped ahead of the Six Nations.

Scotland will forever be the Five Nations champions, having won the last tournament in 1999, before Italy were introduced. Since then they’ve only achieved three wins in a Six Nations campaign twice, in 2006 and 2017.

And so to today, what Finn Russell will be on display, the one we saw against France, or the mercurial talent displayed against England. There is no doubt that if he fires Scotland have a chance. Ireland’s defence out wide has been weak – they’ve conceded three tries against Italy and Wales at home – and out wide is where Scotland’s strength lies.

Ireland will also have their third different centre partnership of Six Nations. Injuries to Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell means that Bundee Aki will have Garry Ringrose alongside him today – the two have never played together. That will surely be of interest to the in-form Huw Jones – 10 tries in 14 internationals says it all, Ireland have been warned.

But where Ireland could gain advantage is in the pack, captain Rory Best has 109 caps to his name while Scotland’s front row combined have 52 caps. It will be interesting to see Cian Healy’s battle with Simon Berghan, both are in good form. Ireland welcome back a British and Irish Lion at tighthead, Tadhg Furlong. It is also the impact from the bench which could sway things, with Andrew Porter, Jack McGrath and Iain Henderson offering excellent options for the home side. Ireland should have enough to edge this one.

Ireland team v Scotland

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 81 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 65 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 11 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 5 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 7 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 71 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 62 caps
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 76 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 109 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 21 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 56 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 45 caps
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 21 caps

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 59 caps
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 45 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 5 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 36 caps
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 18 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 19 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 8 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 1 cap

https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/972447047797362688

Scotland team v Ireland

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 58 caps

14. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps
12. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 31 caps
11. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 32 caps

10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 35 caps
9. Greig Laidlaw VICE CAPTAIN (Clermont Auvergne) – 61 caps

1. Gordon Reid (London Irish) – 30 caps
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 15 caps
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) – 7 caps
4. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 21 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 41 caps
6. John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) – 69 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 18 caps
8. Ryan Wilson VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 35 caps

Substitutes

16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 29 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
18. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 20 caps
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 34 caps
20. David Denton (Worcester Warriors) – 37 caps
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps
22. Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) – 2 caps
23. Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 7 caps

Ireland and Scotland camps look ahead to match