Ireland v Scotland, Six Nations 2022: Match Preview pt II – head to heads

After this weekend, these two sides have one more Six Nations match to go (at Murrayfield next year) before they meet in the World Cup pool stages in 2023. By the time they return to Dublin for the next Ireland v Scotland match in 2024 it feels likely that there will be very different sides running out.

11 of the Scottish 23 and 16 of the Irish squad will be well into their 30s by the time that fixture rolls around. At the start of a new RWC cycle there’s a strong possibility a lot of players in that kind of age bracket will have retired or will be phased out for younger options with 2027 in mind.

Tale of the tape

BACKS
52   Tries   64
93kg   Average weight   94kg
230   Total caps   260
123   6N caps   135
29.3   Average age   28.1

FORWARDS
904kg   Pack weight   898kg
42   Tries   22
354   Total caps   267
171   6N caps   123
28.8   Average age   27.4

SUBSTITUTES
33   Tries   23
363   Total caps   243
168   6N caps   112
30.3   Average age   29.1

2 changes to Scotland starting XV from last Test (v Italy)

• 10 – Kinghorn for Russell [–]
• 4 – Gray for Skinner [+]

Head-to-Head

Overall

Backs – advantage Ireland

This is a very similar Irish backline to the one that played at Murrayfield last season – Mack Hansen for Keith Earls and Bundee Aki for Robbie Henshaw the changes. On the day that group lacked a little bit of fluency with half the number of clean breaks that Scotland managed while Duhan van der Merwe on his own had the same number of broken tackles as Ireland’s backs combined.

Ireland are a year further into the Andy Farrell era though and with Jamison Gibson-Park keeping the tempo high this will be a test for Scotland’s defence, particularly out wide where the back 3 will need to be much sharper and more aggressive than they were against Italy.

Forwards – advantage Ireland

The breakdown battle is likely to be ferocious. Ireland will rely on the speed and relentless efficiency of their clear outs to provide quick, high quality possession. Scotland will hope their trio of ball hounds – Hamish Watson, Rory Darge and George Turner – supported by the strength over the tackle of Matt Fagerson, Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson puts them in a position to challenge or slow any rucks where the Irish are not 100% spot on.

The setpiece could be anything from a mess to just a way to restart the game depending on the attitudes of the players and the approach of the officials. The home side will be smarting from their scrum being dismantled against England. The visitors will have in mind their own meltdown at the lineout last time they played Ireland.

Subs – advantage Ireland

The big unknown here is what impact Finn Russell can have coming off the bench. With just one previous sub appearance for Scotland (against Georgia in 2020) there’s not too much data to base an assessment on. Scottish fans will be hoping for some of what he showed for the Lions in the Third Test in the summer – although with chances taken and a better outcome!

Miscellany

– Stuart Hogg will become the first player to start 50 Six Nations’ games for Scotland Men. He has started in 50 of the 53 matches the national side have played in the championship since early 2012.

– With 770 caps in the matchday 23, this is the most experienced lineup selected in the Townsend era bar one – the 781 cap group who played against Ireland during the 2019 RWC.

– 12 of the Irish side and 12 of the Scots named for this fixture also played in that opening pool match of the World Cup in Yokohama.

– This will be the 90th match that Scotland have played since Finn Russell made his Test debut in July 2014. The Racing playmaker has started 60 of those 90 games at stand off. Can you name all 8 other men who have worn the 10 shirt for the dark blues in that period though?

– Potentially there might be just 3 games (including this one) remaining in Johnny Sexton’s career playing against Scottish teams. Sexton has featured 35 times against Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow and has lost on just 6 occasions. It’s been more than a decade since the stand off tasted defeat against a Scottish side in a competitive game and he’s on a 22-match winning streak against those teams. Can the veteran 10’s run in these fixtures be ended before he retires?

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