Will Ireland be crowned the Guinness Six Nations Champions for 2024?
Well, their final match of this year’s tournament sees them take on a Scottish side that will be doing everything possible to ensure that they finish as high up on the log as they possibly can and avenge a home defeat against the Irish in 2023.
Many would believe that Scotland could be the dark horse in this year’s tournament after their impressive opening half against Wales in the first round. Running into a 27-0 lead after just 43 minutes away to the Welsh in Cardiff, Gregor Townsend’s charges were forced to hold on as Wales scored 26 unanswered points to just miss out on a miraculous comeback win.
Ireland on the other hand dealt with France in their opening clash, a match in which an extended period against 14 men meant they had no trouble securing the win, and they were extremely impressive in doing so.
The Irish have continued to impress during the tournament, and now the final hurdle lies ahead, as Scotland will prove to be a tough opponent to overcome.
Team News
There’s no doubt that with the final match of the Guinness Six Nations left, both Ireland’s Owen Farrell, as well as Scotland’s Gregor Townsend will select their strongest available squad for this clash.
It’s not only about securing that final win of the tournament, but it’s the pride in having bragging rights over your neighbor. Ireland has done well through this tournament in dealing with the loss of retired flyhalf and skipper Johnny Sexton. Peter O’Mahony, taking over the captaincy reigns from Sexton has led the side with aplomb while Jack Crowley has down well in the No. 10 jersey.
Scotland will still be seething from their controversial loss to France in round 2, and who knows what would have happened had the try they thought they had scored that would have given them a win stood.
Their talisman at flyhalf, Finn Russell is sure to start bar injury, and he will be looking to get one over the Scots.
Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations squad
Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster) (captain), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).
Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).
Scotland squad for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Gray(Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors), WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Glen Young (Edinburgh).
Backs: Adam Hastings (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ali Price (Edinburgh Rugby), Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben White (Toulon).
Match Tickets
Ireland vs Scotland tickets will be in very short supply for this final encounter for both sides in the Guinness Six Nations. Irish tickets will quickly be snapped up by home fans considering this is the match in which they are likely to be crowned the champions of the tournament for a second season in succession.
There will be lots of fans making the short trip from Scotland as well, so Scottish tickets for their supporters will be scarce too. Already, tickets from the official channels are not available, they have all been sold out. Even hospitality package deals that include one or two nights of accommodation as well as tickets to game aren’t available anymore.
For those still hoping to secure tickets for this critical encounter, the only way you might have a little luck finding them is on ticket reselling websites, or perhaps at the stadium on the day of the match.
Prediction
Along with France against England, this match is the two best picks of the final weekend. Ireland at home will be brimming with confidence, cheered on by thousands of their adorning fans looking for some reprieve after their quarter-final loss at the Rugby World Cup.
And although a Guinness Six Nations win isn’t quite at the level of that prestigious event, it will take away the pain of their loss to the All Blacks at a tournament where many thought either they or France, the two form teams in the world at the time, would be crowned world champions.
After defeating France in their opening match at this year’s Guinness Six Nations tournament, Ireland had already put one hand on the trophy. Farrell’s charges have never left complacency to slip in in their following fixtures, which easily could have happened, and now, facing a dangerous Scottish side in their last game, they will know that they will have just one final hurdle before they can celebrate.
Scotland has the potential to break Irish hearts, there is no doubt about that. This is a team that has a forward pack capable of taking on the best (just ask the Springboks after the first half of their pool game at the World Cup.) Their backs are dangerous too, and they are not scared to run the ball from anywhere on the field.
Yes, they could beat Ireland, but to be fair, Ireland has enough left in the tank and will want a second Guinness Six Nations trophy in a row to see off whatever the Scots bring to Aviva Park on the day.
It’s going to be a close one, but Ireland will prevail and probably by less than 10 points in a low to mid-scoring match.
Ireland 19-13 Scotland