We look back at a fascinating 2018 tournament. 

Greig Laidlaw's last-gasp penalty ensured Scotland avoided a final-day slip-up.

A needs-must situation, Joe Schmidt had said.

With a third Six Nations Championship in five seasons already safely tucked away, Ireland head for Twickenham on Saturday without the requirement for any added extras.

Considering that everyone has been in such a rush to give Ireland the title, it seems only right that the new champions should now be in line for a golden handshake.

You don’t have to be an incurable optimist to support Scotland but it helps. Year upon year of sky-high hopes being dashed when reality hit home could make even the most fervent fan start to wonder if that gleam they see in the distance is the light at the end of the tunnel or just another train coming to crush their dreams.

Greig Laidlaw has warned Ireland to beware Finn Russell after revealing the Scotland stand-off is in the mood to wreak further havoc after masterminding the dismantling of England.

Blair Kinghorn will make his first start for Scotland on Saturday after being named in Gregor Townsend's side for their pivotal NatWest 6 Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.

“We know we’re going to have to be better than we were last Saturday.”

The loss to Argentina may be the defeat that itches away at Joe Schmidt more than any other but Ireland’s defeat to Scotland at the foothills of last season’s Six Nations was, in some respects, a far more frustrating affair.

If there had been any misgivings in the Irish management think tank about Chris Farrell taking the next big step in his Test career, the Munster centre’s first few minutes of his Six Nations debut will have dispelled them.

Scotland registered their first victory over England in a decade to reignite their NatWest 6 Nations title aspirations and leave the champions nursing a conclusive 25-13 defeat.

Scotland 32 France 26: A relieved Greig Laidlaw has demanded improvements from Scotland despite seeing them come from behind to see off France in the NatWest 6 Nations.

Greig Laidlaw booted 22 points on his return to Scotland's starting line-up as Gregor Townsend's men kick-started their NatWest 6 Nations campaign with a 32-26 win over France.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says Chris Harris has earned his place in the starting line-up of their NatWest 6 Nations opener in Cardiff.

Newcastle back Chris Harris will make his first Scotland start against Wales in Saturday's NatWest 6 Nations opener.

Britain is expected to choose a new central bank chief this year to succeed Canadian Mark Carney, who will step down in June 2019, three months after the country’s scheduled exit from the EU. No one has yet thrown their hat into the ring to succeed him, but there are numerous contenders.

A moment of New Zealand magic denied Scotland a famous victory in a pulsating contest at BT Murrayfield.

Scotland survived a second-half fightback to kick off their international season with a 44-38 win over Samoa at BT Murrayfield.

Ireland flew into Edinburgh last night with what head coach Joe Schmidt described as a “quiet confidence” that the players he will send into the RBS 6 Nations fray at Murrayfield tomorrow can ignore the hype surrounding Scotland and continue their winning ways.

Rassie Erasmus believes keeping Springbok centre Jaco Taute at Munster beyond his short-term contract could be a possibility.

Here’s the lowdown on four big games across Europe...

Skipper Greig Laidlaw rescued a win for scrappy Scotland as he slotted over a last-gasp penalty to seal a 19-16 win over Argentina.

Australia have beaten Scotland 23-22 in their international match at Murrayfield.

Former Ireland Schools international Andrew Trimble will join Huw Jones in the centre for Ballymena’s Ulster derby with Dungannon in Division One of the AIB League at Eaton Park on Saturday.

Dolphin 24 Ballymena 24

Ballymena 18 Garryowen 15

Leinster's Andy Dunne, on his way to Harlequins in London, has been selected at out-half for Clontarrf in the AIL final at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Clontarf are waiting for the all-clear for second row Ben Gissing (hip) and out-half Dave Hewitt (neck) before selecting their side for the All-Ireland league final against Ballymena at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

KILLIAN KEANE was the master craftsman of Garryowen’s sensational 36-16 AIB League victory over Ballymena at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

Ballymena stayed in the running for a top four spot in the All-Ireland League with a 29-07 victory over fierce Ulster rivals Belfast Harlequins.

Ballymena 36 County Carlow 6