Everything points to an Irish victory

NEVER BEFORE has an Irish side played for so valuable a prize as such overwhelming favourites.

In the build up to this game, it has been difficult to meet anyone who could envisage anything other than an Irish win. Can Scotland spoil the party? In sport anything is possible. But on the basis of the evidence presented in the championship to date all indicators point to a convincing Irish victory.

This is a highly experienced Irish team, at the end of a long international season. At this stage last year they it stood on the brink of an even greater prize, the Grand Slam. In the end, there were no complaints when England comprehensively beat them en route to securing the World Cup. The experience earned in the build up to that game will stand to the squad today.