Scotland’s ‘flex’, Irish selection and a ‘Triple Crown final’

The last time Scotland visited Ireland in the Six Nations, in 2024, the mood music around Gregor Townsend’s side was unmistakably solemn.

Having arrived in Dublin on the back of a rare defeat by Italy which effectively killed their title dream, Scottish woes deepened when Ireland ran out 17-13 winners to retain the championship.

This year, Scotland opened with another defeat in Rome, but having bounced back with victories over England and Wales, last week’s stunning destruction of France has raised Scottish hopes of a first title in the Six Nations era and an end to their 36-year wait for the Triple Crown.

For that to happen, however, they must beat Ireland for the first time since 2017 in Super Saturday’s opener (14:10 GMT) and hope that France slip up against England in the late game (20:10).

Like Scotland, Ireland began the tournament in dispiriting fashion, losing heavily to France in Paris.

Both sides must rise to the occasion, but former Ireland star Andrew Trimble believes replicating the emotion and intensity they poured into putting 50 points on France will be Scotland’s biggest challenge.

“They [Scotland] have had good records against England and France. They’ve been inconsistent along the way, but the one consistency in Irish and Scottish rugby is it’s always gone that [Ireland’s] way in the past number of years,” Trimble said on the Ireland Rugby Social.

“Never have they hit those heights before. There’s been threats in the past, ‘OK listen, Scotland are really getting their act together’, but never have they revved their engine so much and last weekend was a huge flex.

“I’ve just never seen them get to anywhere near that height and then back it up and Ireland have always done it.

“I’m not totally confident from an Irish perspective that we can produce a display, but I’d probably be more confident that Scotland would dip from that because they’ve done it every time.”

With confidence flowing through the Scottish squad, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell must nail his team selection. While discussing the Irish selection, Conor Murray argued that Jack Conan has staked his claim for a starting back-row role.

Against Wales, Conan and Nick Timoney started alongside Caelan Doris in the back row as Tadhg Beirne moved into the second row and Josh van der Flier, another experienced back-row option, came off the bench.

“I think the Jack Conan one is interesting,” said Murray.

“Man of the match [against Wales], always plays at a certain level, world class, Lions number eight for two tours and constantly finds himself on the bench because of what he can bring.

“But is it getting to the stage where he has to start? Then what do you do with Tadhg Beirne at six? I always think you need James Ryan on the pitch for that breakdown presence. Playing with him as a nine is a dream because he melts people.”

Murray also feels that Leinster lock Joe McCarthy is best utilised off the bench. McCarthy started Ireland’s first three games but made a significant impact when he was introduced in the second half against Wales.

“Bringing Joe off the bench is proper energy,” added the five-time Six Nations winner.

“He had two or three big moments after he came on [against Wales]. He’s a proper enforcer, when the game is a bit loose, he likes those loose carries with offloads.

For Murray, the only obvious backline selection dilemma concerns the left wing. Tommy O’Brien shone off the bench after James Lowe’s injury against England, but Jacob Stockdale made a try-scoring return to the position against Wales.

And Murray believes Farrell will stick with Stockdale.

“He did well at the weekend. I’ve sympathy for Jacob. I was there in 2018 when he burst on to the scene.

“But injuries and form [affected him] and then he’d been in camp for the past four or five years and playing all the time for Ulster, but Lowe was nailed on.

Ireland and Scotland have had contrasting Triple Crown fortunes down the years. While Ireland have won eight in the Six Nations era, Scotland have not lifted it since 1990.

But while Ireland have chased Grand Slams and titles in recent years, Murray and Trimble argue that winning the Triple Crown would mean a lot to Irish players this weekend given how the campaign started.

“Never has it meant more because it’ll feel like it’s the most noticed, whereas it’s gone under the radar in the past,” said Trimble, who won Triple Crowns in 2006 and 2007.

“Especially after Paris, the Triple Crown feels like a big accomplishment.”

Murray added: “Championships are always the goal and when you lose out, it [the Triple Crown] doesn’t mean less but the standards Ireland have, they’re always going for the championship.