Ireland vs. Scotland: Will the Irish scrum re-ignite following their troubles against England?

On Super Saturday, March 19th, Ireland will meet Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The second of three matches on the last day of the 2022 Six Nations Championship will take place on this day. 

Ireland has won 67 of the last 138 matches between these two nations, while Scotland has won 66, with five draws.

However, Ireland has won 10 of the last 11 games, including a 27-24 victory at Murrayfield in this year's Six Nations, in which Johnny Sexton kicked a late winning penalty after Scotland had overcome a 14-point lead.

Scotland's two victories over Ireland in the previous decade have occurred in Edinburgh, while they last triumphed in Dublin at Croke Park in 2010, thanks to a late-gasp Dan Parks penalty.

Irish fans are excited to see replacement wing Mack Hansen make his international debut against England, but they'll need more than good players if he can't beat out the other replacements for Andrew Conway.

Lock James Ryan, who was the victim of Ewels' red-card tackle at Twickenham, is replaced in the pack by Iain Henderson, while Peter O'Mahony is replaced in the back row by Jack Conan. Conan begins at No. 8, with Caelan Doris moving to the blindside flanker position. With Ryan Baird out, Kieran Treadwell goes to the bench.

The biggest squad news in Scotland is certainly Gregor Townsend's decision to replace erratic fly-half Finn Russell with Blair Kinghorn. There's also a change in the second row, with Exeter teammate Jonny Gray replacing Sam Skinner.

Ireland was much below form against an undermanned England, with the final result at Twickenham belying the visitors after a rather fragmented and timid performance against 14 men. However, it's difficult to see them duplicating that here. Ireland will win if they add pressure on France and perhaps hoist the trophy themselves when all is said and done.

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