'It’s adding to the occasion' - Ireland ready for Triple Crown challenge against confident Scotland

TRIPLE CROWN CHASE: Assistant coach Andrew Goodman during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The delight at Scotland’s statement victory over France was short lived as Ireland knuckled down to the prospect of a Triple Crown decider with the Scots in Dublin this Saturday.

Ireland assistant coach Andrew Goodman admitted there had been Irish roars as events at Murrayfield unfolded last Saturday afternoon, demolishing the French defence to open an unassailable 47-14 lead on their way to a 50-40 win that makes it a three-way battle for the 2026 Guinness Six Nations title this weekend.

France, thanks to their late fightback to earn a try bonus point in Edinburgh, remain favourites as they head into a home game against a demoralised England in the final day of this Super Saturday but their focus will also be on the round’s opening fixture at a sold-out Aviva Stadium, where the winner will top the table ahead of kick-off in Paris.

As an attack coach and rugby supporter, Goodman praised Scotland’s offensive masterclass and seven-try dismantling of France, a victory which prompted their two-try wing and man of the match Darcy Graham to suggest Ireland are “there for the taking” in Dublin this Saturday.

“They've earned the right to be confident from the way they've played to put 50 points on a French team that were flying high and everyone was saying was unbeatable in this competition,” was Goodman’s take on Graham’s comments.

“They've earned the right to have confidence and belief in their game. It’s adding to the occasion of the game.

“We take massive pride in playing at home in front of our people, so it's our job to make sure they come here and they don't get to play that brand of rugby at our home ground. That's our challenge.”

Ireland also have hit attacking heights in this campaign, their 42-21 record victory over the English at Twickenham in round three a statement performance of their own either side of home victories over Italy and, last Friday night, a bonus-point, 27-17 win against Wales.

Just as Scotland have rebounded from a disastrous opening-round loss to Italy in Rome, so too have Andy Farrell’s side regained momentum following their heavy defeat to France in Paris on the first night of the championship back on February 5.

“I thought, in the Italian match and again against England, we had some good aerial moments which led to some good transitional attack,” Goodman said. “Probably again in the weekend, we didn't have the success we wanted in terms of the aerial game, and we know how important it is to get that attack against the unstructured.

“So, every week we're making sure we put massive effort into the skillsets in terms of the kicking and the catching, but also the ability to play off that unstructured ball and make sharp decisions and skill accuracy under that pressure. So, it’s something we're still growing.”

The areas for improvement are clear for Farrell and his assistants as they bid to avoid what they saw as French errors in playing into Scottish hands by pursuing an unstructured, open game that their Murrayfield hosts were only too eager to engage in.

“It was one of our big review points,” Ireland’s attack coach said. “I don't think we managed that middle third of the field that well against Wales, and we've looked at that and discussed how we can be better there as a group.

“Again, the accuracy in the kick in the air makes a big difference. If we are going to kick, we've got to make sure it's on point and we've got to make sure we're really contesting in the air so they don't get any of those scrappy balls, because with the likes of (Blair) Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, etc. in the back there, they’re dangerous and they've got time and space on the ball.

"So, we'll make sure we talk about that, both sides of the ball, attack and defence.”

Brushing up on their play in that middle third of the field was key, Goodman explained.

“It's playing to space if the space is there, but it's making sure we're really accurate if we do that, and its awareness around the forwards and how much work you're putting into them and the toll that will have on them as well.

“So, there's a lot that goes into it, a lot of conversation that the backs have to be really aware of, how they're managing the energy of the team.

“As coaches, we want to encourage them to play if the space is there, take the space, OK, but we've got to execute, especially in that area of the field because if you don't, you might be defending in your 22 for five, six, seven minutes and that takes its toll on a team as well.

“So, it's just being really smart around your decisions. If we do decide to take the space, we're really accurate with our skillset.”