Scotland provide reasons to be wary but there's a Six Nations title to be retained for Ireland

That the Scots also come into this final-round clash having suffered a narrow defeat seven days ago, to Italy in Rome, brings some symmetry to the occasion, particularly as Gregor Townsend’s men are chasing some silverware of their own, in the hope of ending a 25-year wait for a trophy.

TITLE TO BE RETAINED: Head Coach Andy Farrell. Pic Credit: Dan Sheridan, Inpho.

Regrets, Ireland will have more than a few following last Saturday’s dream-crushing defeat to England at Twickenham.

Yet if they are true to their mantra of being next-job focused, those what might have beens will have been shelved last Monday morning and will not matter one iota come 4:45pm today and kick-off against Scotland when there is a Guinness Six Nations title to be retained at Aviva Stadium.