{"id":346016,"date":"2026-03-14T14:22:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T14:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/346016\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T14:22:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T14:22:11","slug":"championship-still-in-the-balance-as-aviva-hosts-triple-crown-decider-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/346016\/","title":{"rendered":"Championship still in the balance as Aviva hosts Triple Crown decider \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ireland 7-7 Scotland<\/p>\n

TRY SCOTLAND – DARCY GRAHAM<\/p>\n

7 mins: 19 phases of play does for Scotland. Russell is involved a few times, fizzing one pass across Baloucoune to get Turner into space. Schoeman makes a good bust inside the 22 and once they go wide, Graham is in. Brilliant. <\/p>\n

Russell converts from out wide. This looks like a belter of a game. <\/p>\n

6 mins: Scotland are threatening in response to the score. Dempsey had a big carry to get over halfway and now they\u2019re building. Russell has gone wide a few times, Ireland bending but not breaking so far. <\/p>\n

TRY IRELAND – JAMIE OSBORNE <\/p>\n

4 mins: An excellent set play. Ireland go off the top from the lineout, getting Baloucoune in off his wing. Doris then threatens to carry from 5 yards out, drawing in the defence, but instead goes out the back to Crowley. He then hits Osborne who goes under the posts untouched. <\/p>\n

Straight off the training paddock. <\/p>\n

Straightforward conversion for Crowley. <\/p>\n

Ireland 7 Scotland 0 <\/p>\n

3 mins: Penalty Ireland! No relief after all. Fagerson stands up in the scrum under pressure from O\u2019Toole and Sheehan. Ireland are aggressive and go to the corner – no kick taken. <\/p>\n

2 mins: Ireland already make a dent with their first attack. Quick ball creates a gap out wide, which Crowley accelerates into. If he gave the pass, Baloucoune had a one-on-one inside the 22. You\u2019d back the big man there but the pass never comes. <\/p>\n

Crowley takes it into contact and spills, giving Scotland some relief with a scrum. <\/p>\n

1 min: Right then, and they\u2019re off! (I\u2019ve spent too much time watching Cheltenham this week…)<\/p>\n

Jack Crowley kicks long and into the Scotland 22. Ireland are attacking towards the main stand in the first half, not the small one down the other end. Scotland safely gather and clear their lines, albeit Jamies Osborne keeps it in play. <\/p>\n

Gordon D\u2019Arcy (of this parish these days) has just delivered the match ball to the referee Luke Pearce. He\u2019s just finished a charity cycle from Scotland to the Aviva to raise funds for MND research. That\u2019s a nice touch. <\/p>\n

Ah lads. They\u2019ve put Craig Casey, (5ft 5in) next to Darragh Murray (6ft 7in) for the anthems. The camera literally had to shudder down to get Casey in shot as they moved across the line. They\u2019ve done him dirty there. <\/p>\n

Real Paul O\u2019Connell-Peter Stringer vibes from back in the day. <\/p>\n

Right then. Teams are out. Super Saturday is nearly upon us – both sides perhaps not desperate for silverware, but it would end one side\u2019s drought while offering reassurance that the other is retooling nicely. It\u2019s been 27 years since Scotland won a trophy, the 1999 Five Nations title. They haven\u2019t won a Triple Crown since 1990. <\/p>\n

President Catherine Connolly is here to do all the handshakes etc. <\/p>\n

There is a Six Nations trophy here. But it\u2019s not the real deal which was badly charred in a vehicle fire a few weeks back. I wonder whose job it is to keep track of which trophy is the real deal and which is the fake for days such as this. I suppose it\u2019s easy to differentiate between the current real one, given its current state…<\/p>\n

\"AA view of the Guinness Six Nations trophy in the Aviva Stadium ahead of the game. Photograph: Inpho <\/p>\n

In terms of Scotland themselves, this is worth a go<\/a> from Tom English of the BBC who briefly moonlighted in these pages. <\/p>\n

Scotland\u2019s relationship with its head coach, Gregor Townsend, is fascinating. Pilloried and criticised to no end, that suddenly has evaporated courtesy of two wins over England and France. Another victory here would bring Scotland a first Triple Crown since 1990. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to recall exactly when Scotland\u2019s cyber rugby public turned on him, ditching the affectionate \u201cToony\u201d moniker and replacing it with \u201cClownsend\u201d, but when it happened it was unpleasant. For some, with no memory of how inspirational a figure he was as a player and nowhere near enough appreciation of some of the big days he has had as coach, it was just indiscriminate flak.<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u00a0Tom English<\/p>\n

I’ve done my best to go this long without talking about ‘arrogant’ Scottish players. But we have to mention it given the history between these teams, not to mention Darcy Graham’s recent comments that Ireland “are there for the taking.”<\/p>\n

Conor Murray has been writing for us about the Ireland camp’s perception of the Scots during his playing days. He doesn’t take the easy option of rage baiting us all, he does actually explain how this dynamic worked internally. It’s interesting stuff. <\/p>\n

Graham\u2019s confident remark is a timely reminder that they are largely the same group that failed to meet expectations throughout the 2020s. And yet, this is the best Scottish team I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u00a0Conor Murray<\/p>\n

You can read the column here. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"ConorConor Murray in action during the 2023 World Cup against Scotland. Photograph: Dan Sheridan\/Inpho <\/p>\n

One storyline potentially worth watching today is Ireland’s goal-kicking woes. According to their expected vs actual kicking success from the tee, they have been the worst side in the competition. <\/p>\n

Take a guess at who the most accurate goal-kicker in Ireland is. Hint: they’re not in the current Ireland squad. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Ireland has a goal-kicking problemOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\"SamSam Prendergast and Jack Crowley. Photograph: Inpho <\/p>\n

As far as the Six Nations title is concerned, there are lots of permutations involved for the three sides in the hunt: Ireland, Scotland and France. The easiest bottom line is Ireland need to win today and hope for an English victory in Paris. <\/p>\n

Ireland are currently on 14 points in third, with Scotland second on 16. France lead, also on 16 points, but are ahead of Scotland on points difference. <\/p>\n

If Ireland win without a bonus point today, they end up on 18 points. They would then need France to lose to England with only one bonus point. A defeat by 7 points or fewer or by more than 7 but with four tries scored would leave France on 17 points – one behind Ireland. If France both score four tries and lose by fewer than 7, they end up on 18 points, level with Ireland. They would almost certainly win the title given their vastly superior points difference. <\/p>\n

If Ireland win with a bonus point – by scoring four or more tries – they end up on 19 points. France cannot catch them if they then lose to England. <\/p>\n

A draw between England and France would see France overtake an Irish victory without a bonus point. Both sides would be on 18 points and, again, France’s 63-point advantage in points difference should win out. If France score four tries in a draw, they end up on 19 points – which is where Ireland would be with a bonus point win against Scotland. <\/p>\n

Draws, of course, are rare in rugby. But if there is one in Paris, Ireland need a stalemate that does not come with four French tries. <\/p>\n

A French victory or an Irish defeat ends Ireland’s title hopes. <\/p>\n

Sunshine in Dublin. Spring rugby at its finest. <\/p>\n

\"AA general view of the inside of the stadium prior to the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between Ireland and Scotland. Photograph: Charles McQuillan\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, we have plenty of Six Nations reads to get your teeth into as we wait for kick-off. Let\u2019s start with Gerry Thornley who has looked at Ireland\u2019s find of the tournament, in terms of new frontline players. <\/p>\n

As Brett Igoe points out in the stats graphic below, this player is a threat in both attack and defence, recording three tries and four turnovers so far in the Six Nations. <\/p>\n

No prizes for guessing who he\u2019s picked…<\/p>\n

You can read the article here.<\/a> <\/p>\n

I think for too long we\u2019ve been probably lacking that X-factor and speed that other teams are using. We just needed something different on the wing and my goodness, he\u2019s provided it<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u00a0Gerry Thornley<\/p>\n

There are world ranking permutations today, to go with all the silverware ones. It seems bizarre that France are behind Ireland in the official global pecking order but that could change this evening. <\/p>\n

World Rugby Men’s Rankings permutations:
\u27a1\ufe0fScotland can equal their all-time high of fifth if they beat Ireland by more than 15 pts
\u27a1\ufe0fFrance can replace Ireland in 3rd if they beat England and the Irish lose.
\u27a1\ufe0fEngland will replace Argentina and France if they win<\/p>\n

\u2014 dominic rumbles (@dominicrumbles) March 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Given we are still some time out from kick-off, you\u2019ve plenty of time to listen to our preview podcast. We got Scottish rugby correspondent from The Times, Mark Palmer, on to try and figure out if Scotland will finally break their 11-match losing run to Ireland or if this just the latest false dawn. Perfect for your Saturday morning walk with the dog.<\/p>\n

\"\"Do Scotland have a genuine chance at breaking their 11-match losing run to Ireland?<\/p>\n

For the stattos, this is brilliant. Brett is definitely worth a follow. <\/p>\n

The battle of the 22s is the key area. Ireland are the best team in this year\u2019s Six Nations at repelling sides inside their own 22, denying 69% of red zone entries from scoring. <\/p>\n

Scotland, are the second best side at converting once inside the 22, doing so with 52.6% of attacks. The best with ball in hand? Ireland, scoring on 52.9% of attacks inside the 22. <\/p>\n

Being the best at defending inside your own 22 and scoring inside the opposition\u2019s is certainly a recipe for success. <\/p>\n

As for the Scots, Kyle Steyn stays on the wing despite being carted off against France. He\u2019s recovered from a nasty cut. <\/p>\n

Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist form a new-look secondrow pairing while Zander Fagerson is back in at prop. Those changes in the pack are worth keeping an eye on. The tight five has historically been Scotland\u2019s Achilles heel against Ireland and they\u2019re without Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings (both injured) from the side that impressed against France. <\/p>\n

Plenty of threats that backline still, Messrs Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones, Kinghorn and Graham (amongst others) threatening to run riot. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s who\u2019s playing. Always important, sure. <\/p>\n

Ireland have made four changes to the team that beat Wales eight days ago, Andy Farrell continuing to show a willingness to tinker with a winning formula. That certainly has been a theme of this Six Nations, Ireland making 24 total changes to to their matchday squad in this campaign. According to Opta\u2019s statto Jonny McCormick, that\u2019s the joint most in any Six Nations run during the Farrell era (2019 being the other runner). <\/p>\n

James Ryan is injured so Joe McCarthy replaces him in the XV and Connacht\u2019s Darragh Murray comes onto the bench for a Six Nations debut. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Tommy O\u2019Brien reprises his pacy double act with Robert Baloucoune after the two wings flew up and down Twickenham a few weeks ago. <\/p>\n

Dan Sheehan is back in at hooker after a week off while Josh van der Flier is also back in the starting side. <\/p>\n

This is it folks. Six weeks of rugby\u2019s annual showpiece culminates in a silverware decider as a Scottish side once again comes to Dublin looking to break their Irish hoodoo. <\/p>\n

Nathan Johns here to tell you what\u2019s what as we build up to Ireland vs Scotland at the Aviva Stadium. Winner takes the Triple Crown and top spot in the Six Nations. For now, as far as the latter is concerned, with the destination of the trophy (a replica, after the original was burned a few weeks ago) dependent on France\u2019s Parisian date with England later this evening. <\/p>\n

Kick-off in Dublin is at 2.10pm. We\u2019ll build up to the action right here. <\/p>\n