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Scotland v Ireland: Everything you need to know
Many consider Ireland as the best-placed side to halt England’s juggernaut at the Six Nations this year and recent history is in their favour ahead of an opening-round trip to Scotland.
Joe Schmidt’s side was ravaged by injury 12 months ago as Ireland relinquished their grip on a crown they had won two years running.
But since that mixed tournament, Ireland have racked up wins over New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in a calendar year for the first time and – even in the absence of injured talisman Jonathan Sexton at Murrayfield on Saturday – are blessed with a wealth of talent.
Moreover, Scotland have managed just three wins in their past 17 contests against Ireland, including four straight defeats.
However, the match marks the start of a farewell Six Nations for head coach Vern Cotter, who will be replaced by Gregor Townsend in June, and Scotland will be keen to send the New Zealander out on a high note.
Many pundits see this as Scotland’s strongest squad for some time and home matches with Ireland and Wales may prove crucial.
HEAD TO HEAD
Scotland: 66
Ireland: 61
Draw: 5
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016?
The 2016 Six Nations was a mixed bag for Ireland, but they went out on a high with a 35-25 win in Dublin.
The 10-point margin belied Ireland’s dominance, although Stuart Hogg produced the moment of the match with a storming solo try – albeit scores from CJ Stander and Keith Earls saw Ireland lead at the break.
Conor Murray and Devin Toner also touched down either side of Richie Gray’s try, while Alex Dunbar’s late effort was a mere consolation for Scotland as Ireland secured third place with their second win of the tournament.
KEY PLAYERS
Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
The marauding full-back emphasised his importance to Scotland by winning the Player of the Tournament in 2016. Hogg helped end a run of nine Six Nations defeats by creating two tries in the win over Italy and scored a wonderful solo try in the loss to Ireland. A strong ball carrier, no player (of those who played in 10 international fixtures or more) made more metres per game than Hogg in international rugby last year.
Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
Ringrose – the youngest member of Ireland’s squad at 22 – stands out as a player with world-class potential. The centre has only won three international caps and is yet to play in the Six Nations, but has already drawn comparisons to the legendary Brian O’Driscoll. Ringrose demonstrated his talent with his first Ireland try in the 27-24 win over Australia and rarely makes mistakes with ball in hand.
THE LINE-UPS
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Huw Jones, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (captain); Allan Dell, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, Ryan Wilson, Hamish Watson, Josh Strauss.
Ireland: Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo, Paddy Jackson, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best (captain), Tadhg Furlong. Iain Henderson, Devin Toner, CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Here’s your @IrishRugby team v @Scotlandteam for #RBS6Nations #TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/5oZgsINPhJ
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 2, 2017
TEAM ANNOUNCED | Three changes to Scotland team to face Ireland in this Saturday’s @SixNationsRugby opener at BT Murrayfield! pic.twitter.com/l67h8YCTLK
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 2, 2017
COACH COMMENTS
Vern Cotter (Scotland): “It is an intense, brutal, feudal competition – and also one that’s great to be involved in…Ireland have just beaten the All Blacks, they’ve beaten Australia and South Africa. These are not one-off results.”
Joe Schmidt (Ireland): “There’s no one more frustrated than Johnny (Sexton) himself. He was incredibly motivated for this championship. In the Six Nations campaigns that I’ve been involved in, Johnny has dominated our number 10 position, so we’re still hopeful he can come back in and do that for us.”
OPTA STATS
– Ireland have lost just three of 17 opening-day games in the Six Nations since 2000, losing to Wales in 2012, France in 2004 and England in 2000.
– Scotland have not won their opening match of a Six Nations campaign since beating France in 2006, which is in fact the only time they have won their opener since Italy joined the competition in 2000.
– Ireland have recorded more wins (61) and scored more tries (220) against Scotland than any other nation. If they score 25 points in this match they will reach 1,500 points scored against their Celtic neighbours.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments