Ireland vs Scotland

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Ireland v Scotland

Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sunday, 2 Feb 2014
Kick-off: 15:00

Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)
Assistant referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant referee: Mike Fraser (NZR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

A. Squads

1. Ireland

Backs:
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster), David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) *, Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Forwards:
Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht) *, Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues) *, Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster) *, Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *, David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *, Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) *, Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)

* Uncapped player

2. Scotland

Forwards:
John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs:
Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

B. Head To Head

127 Played 127
57 Wins 65
65 Losses 57
5 Draws 5
203 Tries 210
104 Conversions 109
111 Penalties 131
17 Drop Goals 38
1,344 Points 1,303

C. Recent Form

24 February 2013
Scotland 12–8 Ireland

10 March 2012
Ireland 32–14  Scotland

27 February 2011
Scotland 18–21  Ireland

D. Teams

1. Ireland



15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 49
14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 2
13. Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 128
12. Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 4
11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 50
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 38
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 22
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 42
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 70
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 34
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 10
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) (capt) 88
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 9
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 60

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 30
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 3
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 7
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 2
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 17
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 5
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 21

* Denotes uncapped player

2. Scotland




15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 5 points
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 6 caps
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 82 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 2 conversions, 9 points
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps, 3 tries, 23 conversions, 54 penalties, 223 points
1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 13 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 71 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps
4 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) 50 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) CAPTAIN 60 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps

Replacements:

16 Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Richie Gray (Castres) 33 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 26 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 64 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
22 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
23 Max Evans (Castres) 37 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Just a thought - take out Brown Ford Shlong and Big Jim and there is not a lot of caps out there for scotland

Off the top of my head minus our senior guys there's 121 caps shared between the remaining 11.

Looking at the teams I think we have the upper hand in the back three, and that's about it although having said that in no position are we completely behind them and should Matt Scott come on and play at his best then we should be on top in the centres which would be the first time in ages that we can say that against Ireland. I'd like to see Dunbar put at full pace against O'Driscoll because I doubt he'll be able to cope with Dunbar's power and pace for 80 minutes and also Hogg put into the line one on one against him, if we can make O'Driscoll look ordinary, which I understand is easier said than done, then their heads will drop.

Sorry to our Scot friends but I think Scotland could get a hiding today. Depending on how Ireland play. I just think Schmidt isd a world class coach who'll get the best out o the players.


Hogg is a player who looks potentially world class to me. The Scottish scrum is usually solid at least.

I wouldn't be too over confident there profitus, Ireland are not suddenly world beaters after 1 excellent game against the AB's. JS still has a lot of work to do I feel and Scotland are not as weak as we would hope to think they are. I still expect an Irish win but it will be close.

More of this today please!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfSiu18itCw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

If we can beat you with Morrison and southwell playing surely we can beat you today??

Paul O'Connell is ruled out with a chest infection - Tuohy comes into the first XV and Iain Henderson is on the bench.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Paul O'Connell is ruled out with a chest infection - Tuohy comes into the first XV and Iain Henderson is on the bench.

That is an unfortunate loss for Ireland. I just heard on radio five he might be out, wasn't sure it was confirmed.

Ireland haven't exactly put out the most flamboyant backline. A poor performance from Sexton and I think Scotland could be difficult to beat.

123456789 wrote:Looking at the teams I think we have the upper hand in the back three, and that's about it although having said that in no position are we completely behind them and should Matt Scott come on and play at his best then we should be on top in the centres which would be the first time in ages that we can say that against Ireland. I'd like to see Dunbar put at full pace against O'Driscoll because I doubt he'll be able to cope with Dunbar's power and pace for 80 minutes and also Hogg put into the line one on one against him, if we can make O'Driscoll look ordinary, which I understand is easier said than done, then their heads will drop.

If BOD has dropped anything in his game it is his pace and as a result his ability to make the line break. I hope to be proven wrong but don't see anyone overpowering him, his defence has always been good. An ordinary BOD is still head and shoulders above most others.

We will miss his leadership - but honestly, Tuohy has been in sublime form. Like I said though, O'Connell is a talisman and his presence is always missed, he just has that sort of effect on the team. Heaslip is captain for the game.

BOD's defence was extremely good for the Lions but since then he has been missing tackles left right and centre. It's fortunate that perhaps only France have the pace in the centre to exploit this.

Would love to be in Dublin for this one. Always great craic before and after with us lot.

Ireland really need to use the hurt from the  NZ game with a  vengeance today.  We have never given one decent performance after another. Ever. That must change under Schmidt. So, lets get our basics right and win this one 1st, then lets rip with some sexshy rugby.

That's the plan. Let's see if it happens. Scotland have a wee habit  of spoiling our gigs.

I just hope we don't get sucked into a dirge-fest. Want to see some rugby played. By us preferably.

Whatever happens, enjoy the game mo Scottish charas. Enjoy Dublin.  Believe.  

POC out? Ooh, that's a game-changer.

We should win today but I don't think the NZ game has changed very much, not yet. The first 20 minutes was unbelievable but after that we lost the game 24-3.

POM and Heaslip really need to step it up in SOB's absence and as ever we are waiting for the day Sexton really does the business for Ireland. I also wish Kearney could find his 2012 level of performance, he played with so much more confidence back then.

The strength in depth we have developed lately is encouraging but I fear that not enough of our backs are in form. Those who are, such as Fitzgerald and Henshaw, are not playing.

POC out is a real blow but still think that Ireland will win. Sexton had a cracking game last week at club level so lets hope he brings that form today.

Gibson wrote:POC out? Ooh, that's a game-changer.  

:-) I am feeling a bit more optimistic now.

Watch out, the Geoffs are about...

Really worried about our backrow. Will we be able to generate enough go forward ball?

Too true Gibson.

Sorry RDW. Was just stating the obvious. Mea culpa. Fair call.

Never get tired of watch old clips of Mike Gibson, he was a superstar.

As in I removed the offending post and posts referring to it - nothing wrong with your post Gibson   

Afternoon lads!   

Shame POC is out with a chest infection. Hope this is a corker of a game. Beautiful day in Dublin by the looks. Hope it's like that next Saturday when I'm there

Still heart breaking watching that loss to the AB's.

Quote of the day from Eddie Butler in the Irish Independent:

[Scotland] are not a "poor side". Their back row of Ryan Grant, Kelly Brown and Dave Denton looks balanced

I mean FFS. If you can't tell the difference between a prop and a loose forward. And the II editorial team didn't even pick it up.

That was a cracking game for neutrals Nachos, but painful for Irish supporters all right.

So Sportsfans, how do ye see this one going? For Ireland, a lot now depends on Tuohy & Toner getting their lineout calls right. And doing the biz in the loose.  POC has been organising the calls all week. Gives Scotland an area to really attack. Something they always do well.

Interesting battle coming up there.

I wonder if it'll be a Battle of the Kickers with Laidlaw and Sexytoes...?

Cari wrote:That was a cracking game for neutrals Nachos, but painful for Irish supporters all right.

One of the best performances I have seen from an Ireland side.

"Only three of this team were alive [when Scotland last won a Grand Slam]" That's a frightening thought!   

Thank Frak for Sky, otherwise I could have been stuck watching Hearts vs ICT.

Eh...does anyone else understand Johnson when he's talking?  Slow down mun!

Glad to see Weir back fully recovered.

Jamie Heaslip that is a bad haircut!   

A lot depends on Sexton for Ireland and Weir for Scotland. Sexton, back on form, should really run this game. I say should...

Getting a wee bit nervous now if Im honest.  Gives the aul heart a wee jump. Healthy...   

Believe.

George Carlin wrote:Quote of the day from Eddie Butler in the Irish Independent:

[Scotland] are not a "poor side". Their back row of Ryan Grant, Kelly Brown and Dave Denton looks balanced

I mean FFS. If you can't tell the difference between a prop and a loose forward. And the II editorial team didn't even pick it up.

Yes George - Butler is a true thicko

Awh the two Chillis always stand together for the anthems...that's cute. Bruvvers innit.

Fancy BOD to do something special today. He's been quiet and is well rested... Last 6-N. He will let it rip.

Love that anthem. Possibly the best of the home nations. Respect.

Gibson wrote:Fancy BOD to do something special today. He's been quiet and is well rested... Last 6-N. He will let it rip.

Na, he's saving it for next weekend...gulp!

Its best done at a packed Murrayfield v England though. This is flat.

Sorry to anyone who likes Irelands call but I wish they would do away with it.

Cari wrote:"Only three of this team were alive [when Scotland last won a Grand Slam]"  That's a frightening thought!   

I think they're talking about the 1984 Grand Slam.

If it was 1990, that would discount practically everyone bar Weir, Dunbar and Hogg!  

Don't apologise Nachos, but I actually like it...only cause it means the cameras linger on the players a little bit longer than any other one...

Stade de France is a nice loud stadium.

Thisis going to be a great game... Stadium looks amazing

IanBru wrote:

Cari wrote:"Only three of this team were alive [when Scotland last won a Grand Slam]"  That's a frightening thought!   

I think they're talking about the 1984 Grand Slam.

If it was 1990, that would discount practically everyone bar Weir, Dunbar and Hogg!  

Ah, yeah they were on about 1984...made me feel old when he said that.

Aahh only for the perv factor eh Cari

Mon Ireland! A new 6-N era begins under Schmidt. Believe.