Scotland primed to tackle their nemesis Ireland with flamboyance | Michael Aylwin


Having ended their Twickenham hoodoo, Gregor Townsend’s side seek to end a dismal run against another familiar foe

It is a measure of their popularity that the previous round of the Six Nations felt so empty without Scotland and France. Curse this virus. Difficult to tell which country’s absence was felt the keenest, but if Scotland wanted the perfect opportunity to remind us why we love them so much these days, while also fulfilling the tiresome directive to win, they could not have chosen much more appropriate opponents than Ireland.

If exhilarating rugby is your thing, Ireland have not been such darlings of late. Probably not coincidentally, they also hold something of a hex over the Scots, having won nine of the past 10 matches between the two.

Related: Scotland must evolve from being one-off performers to genuine contenders | Paul Rees

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