Ireland v Scotland - Teams and Prediction
PREVIEW: Excitement and drama await on ‘Super Saturday” as three teams are in the running for the 2026 Six Nations title.
With France the favourites, Ireland and Scotland will give their best shot at Six Nations glory with the Triple Crown on the line as well in this fixture in Dublin.
The Triple Crown is a prize awarded to one of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales if they defeat the other three in a single Championship season.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell said that even if his side falls short of winning the Six Nations title on Saturday, beating Scotland to secure the Triple Crown would still be “pretty special”.
Both sides also entertain hopes of winning the title, with Ireland trailing the Scots and table-topping France, who host out-of-form England, by two points going into the final round of matches.
Farrell is anticipating quite a contest as they battle it out, at least, for the Triple Crown.
“Dreaming big for something bigger? Of course, you would love to dream like that,” said Farrell of regaining the Six Nations title they won in 2024.
“Obviously, the rest of it is out of our hands, but there’s something that’s in our hands.
“Win something that’s pretty special to us, that’s the Triple Crown.
“Over the years, historically, it’s been hard to come by when you’re playing for Ireland, so we’re desperate to make sure that we get across that.”
Farrell, who is seeking his fourth Triple Crown as Ireland coach, was speaking on Thursday after naming his team.
He recalled stalwarts Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier, while Irish rugby icon Bundee Aki returns and is named on the replacements bench after he was suspended for the first three games.
Hooker Sheehan sat out last Friday’s 27-17 win over Wales, while Van der Flier came on as a replacement. He will form an all-Leinster back row with captain Caelan Doris and Jack Conan, who was man of the match last weekend.
There is also a return for wing Tommy O’Brien, who was rested for the Wales game after an impressive turn in the 42-21 humbling of England.
He replaces Jacob Stockdale, despite the latter scoring a try and creating another against the Welsh.
O’Brien combined brilliantly with the other wing, Robert Baloucoune, against England.
“He’s [O’Brien] a type of player that attacks the game, and that’s the only way he knows, and he certainly did that against England, so he deserves his chance this weekend,” said Farrell.
“But also Jacob Stockdale could be proud of what he’s done over the Six Nations, as far as proving to himself and to us and to everyone else that he’s back at this level.”
The preview continues below…
The final push. 👊 pic.twitter.com/Yjb4lhsZwo
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 11, 2026
‘Challenge facing us’
O’Brien’s Leinster teammate Joe McCarthy also starts after being a replacement against Wales, coming into the second row as James Ryan has a calf injury.
Farrell said 35-year-old Aki, who has been training with them since the lead-up to the Wales game, was raring to go.
“He’s in great form,” said Farrell.
“He’s one of those players, as you all know, who makes the dressing room feel right, and he’s certainly done that over the last two weeks.”
The Scots will arrive with a spring in their step after the astonishing 50-40 win over France last Saturday.
Scottish wing Darcy Graham is so emboldened that he even suggested Ireland “were there for the taking” as they are not the force of old.
Farrell contented himself with saying Graham was a “great lad” and “entitled to his opinion”.
However, the Irish have won their last 11 meetings, and Scotland’s last win in Dublin came back in 2010, prior to Ireland’s return to the renovated Lansdowne Road.
“We know about the challenge facing us on Saturday, and Scotland will travel with confidence,” said Farrell.
“When you factor in a loud home support, and with the game taking place on St Patrick’s weekend, it really has all the ingredients for a cracking contest.”
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said the destination of the Six Nations title was “out of their hands” as his team chases glory in Ireland.
Scotland have never finished higher than third in the Six Nations era and were last crowned champions when winning the final Five Nations tournament in 1999.
Townsend was asked by reporters if he had thought much about the title.
“No. It’s out of our hands, really,” he said.
“We can only do a certain amount.”
“It would be great to finish the championship with a win and finish on a high.
“That will obviously carry on the momentum, and if that means we win the game, we obviously know there’s something at stake.”
The preview continues below…
“Every time we play for Scotland there’s got to be pressure – pressure is a privilege”
Grant Gilchrist looks ahead to Saturday’s clash against Ireland, with plenty on the line ☘️🏴#AsOne pic.twitter.com/Pc5UI4utXK
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 12, 2026
Scotland suffered a lacklustre first-round loss away to Italy.
But they bounced back with wins over England and Wales before running in seven tries during a remarkable 50-40 win over France at Murrayfield last weekend, which ended the defending champions’ quest for a Grand Slam.
“That performance [against France] was close to the best that we’ve seen from this group and from probably any Scotland team,” Townsend said.
“The expectations might be there to repeat that performance in Dublin, but what we want to see from it is, ‘Are they physically ready?’
“We’ve seen them at training this week, we’ve done some contact work yesterday, and they’re up for that challenge.”
Townsend has made three changes to his starting side, selecting a new second row of Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist due to injuries.
“I think the belief is there that when we get our game right, it can put pressure on any defence, and when we get our defence in place, we can frustrate opposition,” said the former Scotland playmaker.
“But this is a different challenge. Ireland seems to play very well against us, so that’s what we’re expecting.
“Their performance against England was one of the standout performances of this year’s championship, and if they deliver that, which we’re expecting them to do, we’re going to have to be very, very good to win.”
Players to watch
For Ireland: Rob Baloucoune is enjoying a solid season and has been equally good on attack and defence. He’ll have to contain the dangerous Scotland backs who can do proper damage when afforded the opportunity. The old head of Stuart McCloskey provides a solid midfield carrier and decision maker. The Irish scrum has also been under fire at times, and their front row will be tested by a Scottish scrum that stood up against France last week.
For Scotland: Kyle Steyn had a blinder last week, and eyes will be on him knowing the threat he possesses along with his back three partners in Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn. Finn Russell’s game management in tandem with Ben White will be crucial as well. As alluded to with Ireland, the Scottish front row will need one more big performance to provide their dangerous backs with quick and clean ball.
Prediction
Rugby365: Ireland by six points
Teams
Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Tommy O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Tom O’Toole.
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell (vice-captain), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (vice-captain), 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 George Horne, 22 Kyle Rowe, 23 Tom Jordan
Date: Saturday, March 14
Venue: AVIVA Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 14.10 (14.10 GMT)
Expected weather: Partly cloudy with a gentle breeze. A high of 10 degrees Celsius and a low of 5 degrees Celsius, and 62 percent humidity.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
