A Triple crown is the least this Irish campaign deserves

If Ireland have learned their lessons, particularly in handling what has been the curiously debilitating effect of playing against teams hit by red cards, then the experiences will stand them in good stead.

Captain Jonathan Sexton and his teammates take their positions for the traditional team photograph before the captain's run. 

If ever there was a banana skin with which to trip up Ireland in their pursuit of at least Guinness Six Nations Triple Crown there can surely not be anything slippier than the prospect of a written-off Scotland side arriving at Aviva Stadium this afternoon.

The Scots may have underperformed yet again in the championship having opened with a landmark win over England at Murrayfield in round one yet their lowly position in fourth place after four rounds should not distract from the reality that Gregor Townsend’s men have never lost the capacity to become more than the sum of their parts.