Scotland can leapfrog Ireland on the Six Nations standings with a round four win over them at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Six Nations Round Four
Scotland v Ireland
Sunday 14 March 17h00
Murrayfield Stadium
After their scintillating Calcutta Cup win over England in the first round, Wales brought Scotland crashing back to earth with an almighty thud in the second. That 24-25 Murrayfield loss, shaped in large part by Zander Fagerson’s red card, obliterated any hopes of achieving what would have been an astonishing Grand Slam — and the nation’s first since 1990.
Still with a game in hand after the postponement of the France game, a win over Ireland here could see them climb as high as third by the end of the weekend; and they’ll certainly be up for it. So highly rated is this current side, in fact, that Ireland forwards coach and Ireland and British & Irish Lions legend Paul O’Connell recently declared Gregor Townsend’s bunch the best Scotland team he will have faced as a player or coach. High praise indeed.
They’ll definitely need to live up to the hype if they are to take down an Ireland side also seeking a second win of the campaign and one with plenty to prove. Andy Farrell’s men will still be hurting following their losses to Wales and France but will look to continue the good form they displayed in their 48-10 win over Italy in Edinburgh this weekend.
Johnny Sexton has warned against allowing opposite number Finn Russell too much time and space on the ball, with the Racing 92 pivot central to everything Scotland do. The likes of CJ Stander and Tadhg Beirne will need to be up for the physical challenge and ensure Hamish “The Mish” Watson and company don’t dominate proceedings at the breakdown.
If the hosts can retain possession and territory, they have a real shot of causing an upset.
Verdict: Scotland 12/10
There seems to be something different about this Scottish side under Townsend at the moment, and I’m putting money on them bagging their second win of the campaign — and a first over Ireland since 2017 — at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Written by Shaun Goosen.
