Ireland v Scotland, Six Nations 2020: Match Preview pt II – head to heads

Less than five months after their last meeting, Ireland and Scotland go head to head again with the Scots looking to turn the tables after getting yanked in Yokohama.

Of the 46 players who were listed for that RWC encounter 27 return. There have been 4 confirmed retirements and a handful of other players may also have featured for their national sides for the last time. Among the starting line-ups 18 of the 30 players who kicked off the opening pool match in Japan return for this fixture – 13 for Ireland and just 5 for the Scots.

Tale of the tape

BACKS
69   Tries   59
94kg   Average weight   94kg
281   Total caps   209
120   6N caps   93
0   6N debutants   0
27.9   Average age   26.5

FORWARDS
892kg   Pack weight   910kg
29   Tries   13
281   Total caps   179
117   6N caps   66
2   6N debutants   2
27.4   Average age   26.6

SUBSTITUTES
11   Tries   19
241   Total caps   140
97   6N caps   50
2   6N debutants   2
27.8   Average age   27.6

10 changes to Scotland starting XV from last Test (v Japan)

• 14 – Maitland for Seymour [+]
• 13 – Jones for Harris [+]
• 11 – Kinghorn for Graham [-]
• 10 – Hastings for Russell [-]
• 9 – Price for Laidlaw [+]
• 1 – Sutherland for Dell [=]
• 3 – Fagerson for Nel [+]
• 4 – Cummings for Gilchrist [+]
• 6/7 – Watson for Bradbury with Ritchie moving from 7 to 6 [+]
• 8 – Haining for Thomson [-]

Head-to-Head

Overall

Backs – advantage Ireland

This is the same Irish unit that took to the field for these sides’ RWC pool match in September. The stats for both backlines that day were pretty similar but Ireland were working with much better ball and their halfbacks dictated the tempo and patterns of the game.

Scotland will be hoping their fresh 9/10 axis of Ali Price and Adam Hastings can change the picture – they’ll need to complement their dual running threat with some astute kicking though. A trio of full backs in the back 3 should help the Scots counter Conway and Stockdale in the air. They may miss the electric spark of compact winger, Darcy Graham though.

Forwards – advantage Ireland

At 910kgs this is the heaviest pack ever selected by Gregor Townsend for Scotland. It is 34kgs heavier than the 8 listed for the game against Ireland during the RWC. There’s surely no question that Toony is looking for a really physical, aggressive performance from his forwards to counter an Irish pack that dismantled the dark blues a few months ago.

On their day all of the tight 5 selected are capable of contributing in the setpiece and the loose. It’s around the breakdown that the Irish have really dominated in recent years and players like Zander Fagerson and Jonny Gray will need to show the very best of their early season form to provide any kind of counter to the home side’s threat in this area.

Subs– advantage Ireland

Backup scrum halves John Cooney and George Horne can both consider themselves unlucky not to be starting this game. So far this season, Cooney has scored 9 tries in 15 games. Horne has 6 in 11 (plus his hat-trick at the World Cup). Expect fireworks when these two get on the pitch.

Miscellany

– It’s been 1,316 days since Rory Sutherland’s last appearance for Scotland and 727 days since Cornell Du Preez’s last Test match.

– Of the 8 players making their Six Nations’ debuts in this match, George Horne is the most experienced with 10 caps already under his belt.

– Rory Sutherland and Nick Haining will take the tally of players who have featured in the Townsend era to 74.

– With one eye on the 2023 World Cup, Ireland have 10 players aged 29 or older in their lineup (6 starters and 4 subs) who might be considered unlikely to make it to France in 4 years’ time. Scotland have 6 in the 29+ bracket (3 starters and 3 subs).

– There are a number of graduates from these two countries’ encounter at age-grade level during the pool stages of the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship. Included in the lineups that day were:

• Ireland: 1. Andrew Porter; 13. Garry Ringrose; 23 Jacob Stockdale
• Scotland: 3. Zander Fagerson; 4. Scott Cummings; 7 Jamie Ritchie; 9. George Horne; 10. Blair Kinghorn; 22. Rory Hutchinson

---

Missed part 1? Check it out here. Featuring the previous history between these two sides; Ireland scouting report; and Scotland’s record with M. Raynal as referee.