A closer look - Scotland v Ireland

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Scotland v Ireland

Joe Schmidt enters the opening round of the 6 Nations without the key cog to his back-line. The absence of Sexton is a huge blow to the plans of the Irish coaching staff, as the Leinster fly-half has been influential in Ireland's recent success in the tournament. Ireland drew their opening game in last year's campaign at home to Wales, a stuttered start put them on the back foot early and halted momentum at a crucial stage. Leading on from a successful Autumn series, the squad will look to build on those performances by securing silverware come the 18th of March. 

With the squad filled with dynamic runners and an array of options off the bench, Schmidt comes into the tournament as a leading candidate to secure a 3rd title in 4 years. An explosive back-row and an exciting centre partnership are two areas where Ireland should look to exploit opposition defences. Stand-in fly half, Jackson has steered Ireland to crucial victories in the past and has shown he can guide the team when needed. A key battle will be between Scotland's Finn Russell and the Ulsterman. Russell has shone this season with his distribution skills and ability to unlock opposing defences with his running game, while maintaing accuracy off the kicking tee and out of hand.

Maintaining large amounts of possession was a springboard to Ireland's 35-25 win at the Aviva last season, as Schmidt noted, Ireland enjoyed 80% possession and territory in the first half of the contest, but only led by 8 points at the interval. The weather on Saturday is expected to be ferocious, with strong winds, which could occasionally gust over 65km per hour. Schmidt is wary of the threat the Scotland team provide “you just don’t want to give them ball. You don’t want to allow them time and space because they make really good use of it.”

The recent Champions Cup fixtures between Munster & Glasgow has fuelled the rivalry, with the games spilling over with confrontation, yet Schmidt does not expect the bad blood to spill over on Saturday. “ I really think that once you’re playing in a national side that it very much becomes focused on a new beginning and a new team against a new team. I know there’s a number of Munster guys on our team and there’s a number of Glasgow Warriors in theirs but it’s a different environment, Ireland against Scotland, and that in itself puts a different hue on the whole thing.

Brian O' Driscoll's 3 Reasons for....

A Scottish win

1. The domestic Scotland clubs have been performing incredibly well in their respective European competitions - Edinburgh have progressed to the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup & Glasgow showed some scintillating rugby at Welford Road to ensure their progression to the knock out stages of the Champions Cup. This confidence will drip through the national set-up and raise belief in the squad.

2. The loss of Johnny Sexton for Ireland improves the hosts chances of gaining a victory. The Irish fly-half is pivotal to their game plan, having been ruled out of the game through injury - the Scotland side will try to capitalise on his absence.

3. The Autumn Test series proved that the side can topple the leading Test nations in the game. Losing narrowly to Australia at Murrayfield, before clincing a victory over the Pumas. They rounded up the series with a impressive win over Georgia, showing their attacking prowess.

An Irish win

1. Ireland enter the 6 Nations period off the back of some outstanding performances - beating the All Blacks in Chicago, a highlight of their campaign. A home win over the Wallabies proved that Ireland had once again arrived on the biggest stage with an heroic second half performance in Dublin.

2. The 2017 Six Nations is the last tournament to gain vital ranking points for the 2019 RWC, with this incentive, Ireland will try to make full advantage of the favourable fixture list, with France & England having to travel to the Aviva Stadium during the tournament.

3. The emergence of exciting youngsters provide the squad with a fresh boost. Robbie Henshaw is forming an exciting partnership with his fellow Leinster centre Garry Ringrose. This pairing will be looking to punch holes through the Scotland defence at Murrayfield.