Ireland are inflating scope of Scottish threat

Don’t believe the hype. Scotland have been talked up these past two weeks, not least by themselves but also by their Irish opponents.

Yet while there are convincing arguments for a rejuvenated, powerful, all-singing and Scottish dancing team assembled by Vern Cotter to finally come good in the RBS 6 Nations, there is also compelling evidence that Ireland have no small amount of momentum themselves and a loss here at Murrayfield this afternoon would represent a serious setback for head coach Joe Schmidt.

No-one expected Schmidt to declare his world number four-ranked side red-hot favourites for this 2017 Championship opener, bonus points and all, despite the seriously good form and wonderful intensity they showed during their historic November series.