'They'll be confident' – Ireland captain Caelan Doris expects Scotland to rise to occasion

With the triple crown on the line this weekend, there’s also potentially everything to play for, with three teams still in the running for the championship. If England beat France, any Ireland bonus-point win over Scotland would win them the championship. Despite Scotland's recent run of form against Ireland, Doris expects them to show up confident at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

"I think there's going to be a lot of confidence coming from their camp. Off the back of their win and the nature of the performance last weekend, but also how they've been going over the last couple of weeks in England as well. I think they've got a lot of belief in what they do and how they do things. I think they'll be coming here confident as well."

"I think taking it moment by moment and really attacking the game, understanding that the win is the most important thing. Obviously, there are bonus points and different permutations that come into it, but I think how we start is going to be important."

Following their fifty-point demolition of France last week, Scotland's attack is on a hot run of form, led by Finn Russell. The Scottish number 10 has been Gregor Townsend's most effective attacking performer of the tournament. With 3 try involvements, the only players who have had more impact than the Lions' tested fly-half are France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Theo Attissogbe, Thomas Ramos, and Ireland's Stuart McCloskey.

"I mean you saw last week the variety in attacking threats, they scored some tries off first phase line outs, they kind of played up the middle, tight with their forwards, pick and goes, one pass plays, they are capable of playing wide to wide with a lot of depth, Finn Russell changes direction, so I mean it is a very varied attacking game and when they get it right it's very hard to stop."

"Scotland has a very quick speed of ball, I think the quickest in the tournament, and they hold off the ball very well as well, so as a back row in particular, it's going to be important to win that battle. But I think just every kind of opportunity for collision, every contact with their pack is an important moment."

After singling out the areas where Scotland may pose a danger to Ireland, looking ahead to tomorrow's game, there is a lot more at stake than just the Triple Crown. With the 2027 World Cup coming up, where Ireland will play Scotland, there is a sense that some key members of the Ireland squad over the last few years may be moving on following the World Cup cycle.

"Yeah, I mean, there's nerves and excitement and that's because we care. We know what's at stake. We know we want to get it right. We know we want to finish the tournament with our best performance yet. And there's obviously a triple crown at stake on the line against our good old rivals at Scotland. So there is a lot at stake, and with that comes nerves, but a ton of excitement as well."

"Yeah, I think it would be a big stepping stone on this team's journey, this team's path. I think there's been some good progression through the tournament, and there's a good feeling in camp at the minute, like I say. So, yeah, I think it would further the belief, definitely, and it would be something we'd reflect on and look back on with positive feelings."

While there are some members of Ireland's squad that may be moving on in the next two years, Andy Farrell has already put plans in place with younger talent coming through across this Six Nations.

With the likes of Edwin Edogbo and Cormac Izuchukwu making their debuts, this tournament also saw the likes of Nick Timoney and Robert Balocoune cement their place in the squad, entering the peak of their careers.

"He's (Robert Balocoune) incredibly relaxed. But he's been playing unbelievable stuff as you've been seeing he trains that way as well. He's obviously super fast, but very skillful, and he's finding his way into the game more and more, so yeah, he's a good man to have on our side."

Nearing the end of the tournament, Baloucoune's electric form has him sitting near the top of the board for tries scored, coming out as one of Ireland's best performers. Alongside the likes of Stuart McCloskey, Leinster's Jack Conan is one unlucky case who may have cemented himself as one of Ireland's best performers of the tournament, had it not been for an illness that saw him miss Ireland's win at Twickenham.

"Very athletic, good feet, good hands at the line as well. So he's kind of got a varied skill set and is able to get his quick ball, go for a ball. But he also is capable of holding the edges and making some good decisions out there, strong defensively. Very good decisions in the back of the tackle as well. So he's a turnover threat as well. So yeah, he offers a lot."

With French broadcasters reporting a record viewership number for France's opener against Ireland, Ireland's Six Nations victory over England also attracted the country's largest viewership of the tournament, excluding tomorrow's game, which may yet surpass those heights. With a box office Super Saturday coming up tomorrow, that may boost viewership even higher.

"It's a special tournament, yeah. It's been a very good buzz throughout. You can't take it for granted representing your nation in such a great tournament and playing with some of your best mates as well. So it's definitely special times, and we'll try and make the most of it tomorrow."

3. Doris was officially named Ireland captain for the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, following the retirement of former captain Peter O’Mahony.