Six Nations: Irish and Scotland both in the mood for farewell party

Cheltenham week, St Patrick’s Day and Ireland going for the Six Nations. We have come to expect a certain standard of entertainment for the third weekend in March over the last while but alas no more, the rugby element of the shindig has not come up to scratch this year.

This evening at Aviva Stadium the holders will bow out against Scotland, their crown long since handed back and about to passed on to a resurgent England. After capturing the nation’s attention in successive years with last-day glory-hunting in Paris and Edinburgh, Ireland head into round five with nothing but third to play for

For those invested and involved in the outcome, however, there is much on the line. With three Tests in South Africa in June and a November schedule that begins with a Chicago appointment with New Zealand and then sees those world champion All Blacks, as well as Australia, visit Dublin, Ireland need all the positives they can take into the rest of 2016.