Ireland v Scotland predictions and rugby union tips: No let up from Ireland

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Ireland v Scotland in the Six Nations.

Where to watch

ITV & Virgin Media One, 4.45pm Saturday

Best bet

Ireland -16
2pts Evs general

Match preview

Ireland were rated France's biggest challengers for the Six Nations title and they have the chance to hit the top of the table with victory over Scotland in their closing match.

They will still need England to do them a favour and beat the French in Paris later on, but Ireland have looked so focused and well organised that they surely won't allow themselves to slip up with the finish line in sight.

Ireland have won ten of their 11 Six Nations clashes with Scotland in Dublin, their only defeat coming in 2010. Eight of those wins have been by a double-figure margin, and the hosts have covered the handicap in five of the last seven showdowns.

Saturday's line is set at 16 points, a mark they've covered in seven of their ten home wins. However, just one of those has come in the last three meetings as Scotland have steadily gone from strength to strength.

It has been a frustrating campaign for the Scots, who opened with a victory over England but couldn't get past Wales in a close battle then performed well in a defeat to France.

Italy last week looked as if it would be a comfortable win when Scotland took a 33-10 lead before shipping two tries in the last 15 minutes. And while that didn't affect the outcome, the Scots were also rattled at times in the first half and face a far sterner test in Dublin.

There's an unfamiliar look to this Scotland side, with fly-half Finn Russell on the bench after he and five others were found to have breached team protocols following the Italy game. Blair Kinghorn, usually a full-back, wears the number ten shirt instead as he did against Tonga in the autumn.

Ireland showed they can keep their focus when scoring two tries in the last ten minutes against a dogged England side last week to seal the game and gain a crucial bonus point. And if they do the same again this should be another big win.

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