Scotland Team to face Ireland: Southwell, Lamont, De Luca, Morrison, Evans, Parks, Cusiter, Jacobsen, Ford, Murray, Hamilton, Kellock, Brown, Barclay, Beattie
Replacements: Lawson, Dickinson, Gray, MacDonald, Blair, Godman, Danielli

Rory Lawson and Nathan Hines will count themselves unlucky, although Hines is ruled out through injury. Still, I would have liked to see a bit more inspiration on the bench given the difference between a wooden spoon and second bottom is negligible to us as a nation with plenty oak in the cutlery drawer but the difference to younger or non-regular players (Gray, Jackson, Cairns) between having played a bit in the 6N and not having played could be considerable in their development… Hope you all enjoy the game, I am fortunate enough to be winging my way there at the weekend and seeing what Croke Park and Dublin have to offer.

Oh, and exiled Number 8 and former Lion Simon Taylor has signed for Bath, who now have two Scots on the books following the news of Mark McMillan’s move there next season.

Rory is the editor of Scottish Rugby Blog, and has offered a fan's view on Scottish Rugby since founding the blog.