Scotland vs Ireland LIVE rugby: Latest Six Nations updates as rivals renew hostilities in pivotal clash

Kick off is drawing ever nearer at Murrayfield. Can Scotland finally end their Ireland hoodoo and set up a proper title charge?

Referee: James Doleman (NZ)

Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Pierre Brousset (Fra)

Television Match Official: Richard Kelly (NZ)

Foul Play Review Officer: Andrew Jackson (Eng)

Gregor Townsend dismissed any notion that Scotland versus Ireland has become a grudge match ahead of Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations showdown between the sides at Murrayfield.

The Scots have lost each of their last 10 meetings against the Irish – including two World Cup pool-stage fixtures – in a run stretching back to February 2017.

A perception has developed that Ireland take particular delight from putting Townsend’s men in their place whenever they are deemed to be talking bullishly about their prospects of ending a hoodoo now spanning eight years.

Asked if he detected a more intense rivalry between the sides in recent times, the Scotland head coach said: “I don’t think there is. Well, if there is, it’s just the same as any other game where teams want to build up something to provide extra motivation.

Scotland co-captain Rory Darge backed his Glasgow team-mate Tom Jordan to continue his “whirlwind” journey by taking his first Six Nations start in his stride against Ireland on Sunday.

The 26-year-old back will wear the number 12 jersey usually reserved for injured centre and national team captain Sione Tuipulotu after a strong display as a second-half replacement for Stafford McDowall in last weekend’s 31-19 win over Italy.

New Zealand-born Jordan – who initially joined semi-pro side Ayrshire after moving to Scotland in 2019 and then signed for Glasgow in 2022 – won his first four caps for Gregor Townsend’s side in November after qualifying on residency grounds.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris expects Calvin Nash to prove an able deputy once more after being drafted in from the cold to start Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations showdown with Scotland following the late withdrawal of key man Mack Hansen.

The 27-year-old Nash stepped up to play all five of last year’s Six Nations matches and two summer Tests against South Africa as Connacht flyer Hansen was sidelined for the first half of last year with a shoulder injury.

Ireland recall old warhorse Peter O’Mahony to their side, with the veteran sure to revel again in a rivalry he has relished over the last few years. Ryan Baird drops to a bench off which Robbie Henshaw is promoted to partner Bundee Aki in the centres. Mack Hansen had originally been named in Simon Easterby’s starting side, but drops out due to injury with Calvin Nash whistled in.

That means Sam Prendergast is trusted again as the starting fly half as Jack Crowley is tasked with making an impact as a replacement once more. Hooker Dan Sheehan similarly remains among a strong bench unit.

Ireland XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham; 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (capt.); 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Sam Prendergast; 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Calvin Nash; 15 Hugo Keenan.

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Jack Conan; 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Garry Ringrose.

Gregor Townsend makes three changes to the Scottish side, most eye-catching at inside centre where Tom Jordan supplants Stafford McDowall. The versatile Jordan has also featured at 10 and 15 for club and country but impressed off the bench at 12 last week, and gets the opportunity to fill the sizeable hole left by injured skipper Sione Tuipulotu.

Up front, Pierre Schoeman is held in reserve as Rory Sutherland is given a rare start on the loosehead, while the promotion of Jack Dempsey off the bench sees Matt Fagerson pushed to the blindside. Jamie Ritchie is the odd man out – the flanker is one of six forwards on the bench.

Scotland XV: 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Jonny Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist; 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge (co-capt.), 8 Jack Dempsey; 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell (co-capt.); 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Tom Jordan, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Darcy Graham; 15 Blair Kinghorn.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Jamie Ritchie; 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.

Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his starting XV and one of them sees versatile Glasgow back Tom Jordan come in for his first Six Nations outing some three months after his Test debut against Fiji. Jordan has played three different positions this season alone for his club: stand-off, full-back and inside centre. The New Zealand-born 26-year-old will wear the number 12 jersey – usually reserved for injured captain Sione Tuipulotu – after getting the nod over Stafford McDowall, who drops to the bench. It is another huge assignment for Jordan but the back, who is moving to Bristol in the summer, has stood up impressively to every challenge he has faced in his previous five Tests.

Since a damaging defeat away to Italy in the penultimate match of last year’s Six Nations, the Scots have generally been trending in the right direction. Following a spirited display in a narrow defeat in Dublin to conclude last year’s championship, they won all four of their summer tour matches – albeit against lower-ranked opponents – and then won three of their four autumn Tests, with their only defeat against double world champions South Africa following a performance they took plenty encouragement from. The Scots – who showed their mettle to fend off an Italian fightback in last weekend’s Six Nations opener – have spoken extensively in recent months about how they believe they have now developed the mindset to be equipped for tests such as that coming their way today.