Six Nations: Stephen Ferris previews Scotland v Ireland
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The final game from the penultimate round of Six Nations fixtures comes from Murrayfield as Scotland host leaders Ireland in a top-of-the-table clash.
Ladbrokes ambassador Stephen Ferris gives his thoughts on the game in Edinburgh where the Irish can take another step towards the Grand Slam, but the Scots also have hopes of landing the Triple Crown.
Scotland v Ireland (Sunday, 15.00, BBC)
The game of the weekend. If Scotland take the spoils they will win the Triple Crown and give themselves a fighting chance of winning the Championship. Should Ireland win they will face England in round five for yet another Grand Slam. I tell you what, I can’t wait for this one.
Ireland have lost twice to Scotland at Murrayfield over the last decade. Their last defeat was in 2017 which was an incredibly close encounter, and one that Ireland felt they should have won. Can Ireland keep this great record going in the Scottish capital or will a rejuvenated Scotland team put in a match-winning performance?
Our line up to face Scotland in Edinburgh! 😤#TeamOfUs | #GuinnessSixNations
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 10, 2023
The injuries are starting to mount up for Ireland. Tadgh Beirne’s tournament ended against France in round two; Finlay Bealham’s in Rome in round three. Johnny Sexton’s fitness was yet again called into question due to him picking up a niggle which forced him to miss the last game.
However, Ireland are going to welcome back some key individuals for Saturday and should field their strongest starting XV of the Championship so far, whjich isn’t what the Scotland team really wanted.
Stuart Hogg will win his 100th cap for Scotland, which really is an incredible achievement. How good would it be for him to top off such a momentous occasion with a scalp against the best-ranked team in the world? I’m sure he has thought about this game for several weeks, and now it’s finally here.
“You want to go up against the best teams in the world."
Gregor Townsend makes two changes for this weekend’s BT Murrayfield clash.
More ➡️ https://t.co/m44hUJW9jb pic.twitter.com/qu9huniF0I
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 10, 2023
Scotland will be without Grant Gilchrist after he was handed a three-week ban for his red card against France. Jamie Ritchie will continue to lead his side, and hopefully Scotland’s big-game players like Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe and Hamish Watson all bring their ‘A’ game, because they are going to need it.
Ireland have threats all over the pitch and no-one ever has an average game, never mind a bad one. The most consistent team in the world for the last two years always seem to find a way to get the job done.
If they are to secure a win then they need their own captain Sexton to have a pivotal game. The fly-half only needs eight more points to break Ronan O’Gara’s Six Nations points record (550), so watch out for him signalling for the kicking tee when Ireland get a penalty within shooting distance.
This man only has two more Six Nations games left in his career, after he said he would be hanging up his boots after this year’s Rugby World Cup. You can be sure he will want the points record, two wins, the Triple Crown and a Grand Slam. I’m not betting against that happening!
