Six Nations Super Saturday arrives, and it doesn't get much bigger than this.
Ireland and Scotland meet at the Aviva Stadium in a Round 5 Six Nations finale where a Triple Crown is guaranteed to be decided, and both sides still harbour genuine title ambitions depending on what happens in Paris later that evening.
Scotland arrive in Dublin on the back of one of the performances of the tournament – a breathtaking 50-40 demolition of France at Murrayfield – and dare to dream of a first Six Nations title. Ireland, meanwhile, have bounced back impressively from their opening-day defeat in Paris, and know that a win, combined with a France slip-up, could deliver championship glory on home soil.
With enormous stakes, two in-form sides, and a rivalry stretching back 150 years, get yourself ready for the big game with everything you need to know right here.
Match Details
Ireland vs Scotland Match Details
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
Kick-off: 14:10, Saturday, 14 March 2026
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
How to Watch
How to Watch Ireland vs Scotland
The Round 5 showdown kicks off at 14:10 on Saturday, 14 March 2026.
UK coverage is live on ITV1 from 1pm, presented by Jill Douglas, with commentary from Miles Harrison, Scott Hastings and Gordon D'Arcy, analysis from Brian O'Driscoll, Rory Best and Greig Laidlaw, and reports from Gabriel Clarke.
In Ireland, coverage begins at 1pm on Virgin Media One.
Betting Odds
Ireland vs Scotland Betting Odds – Six Nations 2026
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Ireland | 2/5 | 71.4% |
Scotland | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Draw | 28/1 | 3.4% |
Ireland are clear favourites at 2/5, with Scotland available at 15/8 and the draw a distant 28/1, reflecting strong confidence in the home side at the Aviva.
Total Points Betting
Market | Odds |
|---|---|
Over 50.5 | 10/11 |
Under 50.5 | 4/5 |
Handicap Betting
Market | Odds |
|---|---|
Ireland -6 | 10/11 |
Scotland +6 | 10/11 |
Handicap Draw (-6) | 18/1 |
Try Scorer Odds
Try Scorer Betting
Player | First Try | Anytime |
|---|---|---|
Dan Sheehan | 9/1 | 11/10 |
Robert Baloucoune | 9/1 | 11/10 |
Darcy Graham | 10/1 | 13/10 |
Tommy O'Brien | 10/1 | 13/10 |
Kyle Steyn | 12/1 | 8/5 |
Huw Jones | 14/1 | 19/10 |
Jamie Osborne | 14/1 | 19/10 |
Bar | 16/1 | 11/5 |
Dan Sheehan and Robert Baloucoune share favouritism in the first tryscorer market at 9/1, with both also leading the anytime market at 11/10. Scotland's danger men on the wings, Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn, are well represented at 10/1 and 12/1 respectively for first try.
Team News
Team News
Ireland Team News
Starting XV
15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Tommy O'Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 1 Tom O'Toole, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (C)
Replacements
16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki
Andy Farrell makes four changes from the side that beat Wales. Dan Sheehan returns at hooker, Josh van der Flier is recalled at openside, Tommy O'Brien comes in on the left wing, and Joe McCarthy slots back into the second row in place of the injured James Ryan. Bundee Aki is named among the replacements and is poised to make his first appearance of the championship after suspension.
Scotland Team News
Starting XV
15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell (vc), 9 Ben White, 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge (vc), 8 Jack Dempsey
Replacements
16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 D'Arcy Rae, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 George Horne, 22 Kyle Rowe, 23 Tom Jordan
Gregor Townsend makes three changes, all enforced. Injuries to first-choice locks Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown see Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist come into the second row, with the latter set to break the Scottish appearance record for a lock on his 88th cap. Zander Fagerson starts at tighthead having come off the bench against France. The backline is unchanged, with Kyle Steyn and Huw Jones both shaking off knocks to take their places.
Form Guides
Team Form Guides
Ireland Form Guide
Ireland's 2026 Six Nations campaign began with a bruising 36-14 defeat to France in Paris on opening night, but they have been in formidable shape ever since. A 20-13 home win over Italy in Round 2 was functional rather than spectacular, but Round 3 produced one of the performances of the championship: a record-breaking 42-21 dismantling of England at Twickenham, with five tries signalling Ireland at their destructive best.
A 27-17 win over Wales at home in Round 4 kept the momentum going, and they arrive at this final weekend in third place, having lost only once and with genuine title aspirations still intact.
Scotland Form Guide
Scotland's tournament looked to be unravelling after a shock 18-15 defeat to Italy in Rome in the opening round. What followed, however, has been nothing short of remarkable.
They overwhelmed England 31-20 at Murrayfield in Round 2 to claim the Calcutta Cup, ground out a gutsy 26-23 win in Cardiff in Round 3, and then produced the result of the tournament in Round 4 – a stunning 50-40 victory over France that ended the hosts' Grand Slam ambitions and catapulted Scotland level with them at the top of the table.
Townsend's side carry enormous momentum into Dublin.
Title Race Permutations
The Title Race – What Ireland & Scotland Need To Clinch Six Nations Crown
How Ireland Can Win the Six Nations
- Ireland need to win to have any chance of jumping from third to first on Saturday.
- To have the best chance, they will aim to get a five-point win over Scotland, and then cheer on England in Paris later that evening. Even two losing bonus points would not be enough to give France the title in that scenario.
- If Ireland win without the bonus point, they will hope England beat France by more than seven points or prevent them from scoring four tries.
How Scotland Can Win the Six Nations
- Scotland must beat Ireland in Dublin, preferably with a four-try bonus point.
- If they do that, they will need France to drop points against England – either by failing to win, or missing out on the try-scoring bonus point.
- France's 58-point superior points difference means that if both Scotland and France lose, France still retain the advantage. In short, Scotland need to better France's result to claim the title.
- A first Six Nations title would be their first championship success since 1999, before Italy's entry into the tournament.
Head-to-Head
Ireland vs Scotland Head-to-Head
Ireland and Scotland have met 144 times in their long and storied international history, with Ireland holding a narrow edge: 72 wins to Scotland's 67, with five draws.
In the Six Nations era, Ireland have been dominant, winning eight of their last eight Six Nations meetings with Scotland, their last defeat in the championship fixture coming at Murrayfield in 2017.
Recent Meetings
Date | Result |
|---|---|
9 Feb 2025 | Scotland 18 – 32 Ireland |
16 Mar 2024 | Ireland 17 – 13 Scotland |
7 Oct 2023 | Ireland 36 – 14 Scotland |
12 Mar 2023 | Scotland 7 – 22 Ireland |
19 Mar 2022 | Ireland 26 – 5 Scotland |
Ireland's recent dominance in this fixture is stark. They have won 11 consecutive matches against Scotland, their longest ever winning run in the championship. Scotland have not won on Irish soil since 2010 – and have never beaten Ireland since Gregor Townsend took charge in 2017, losing all 11 meetings during his tenure.
Ireland vs Scotland Betting Tips
Ireland vs Scotland Betting Tips – Six Nations 2026
Ireland -6 @ 10/11
The case for Ireland to win comfortably begins at home. They have won 17 of their last 18 matches at the Aviva Stadium, and their record against Scotland specifically on home soil since the ground's redevelopment is an unblemished one. Scotland have not won in Dublin since 2010 and have never beaten Ireland under Townsend across 11 attempts.
Ireland's pack provides further reason for confidence in the handicap. Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier – all Lions quality – anchor a forward unit built to dominate territory and set-piece. Caelan Doris leads a back row built for physical attrition, and with Jamison Gibson-Park controlling tempo at nine, Ireland have the platform to accumulate points in a structured, disciplined fashion.
Scotland's strengths are real – Finn Russell can unlock any defence, and their wing pairing of Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn lit up Murrayfield last week. However, their second row has been reshuffled due to injuries, and their defensive record this championship has shown they can be exposed: they have conceded 40 points to France and 23 to Wales in a single game this season. Ireland's attack, which posted 42 at Twickenham, is well-equipped to apply that kind of pressure.
With the Triple Crown also on the line, Ireland will be motivated to impose themselves at home. The -6 line is eminently achievable.
Dan Sheehan Anytime Try Scorer @ 11/10
Dan Sheehan is one of the most reliable try-scoring forwards in international rugby, and his return to the starting lineup for this match only strengthens the appeal of this market. He is central to Ireland's maul and close-range strike-play, and his numbers in this championship reflect his importance as a finishing option from forward-led phases.
Ireland's backline options place added emphasis on their pack-driven attack, and Jack Crowley's control at ten alongside Gibson-Park's tempo creates a high volume of structured carries from close range – precisely the environment in which Sheehan thrives. Scotland's defence, while improved in their last outing against France, still conceded seven tries.
Any sustained pressure from the Irish pack inside the opposition 22 will create opportunities, and Sheehan is the most likely beneficiary.
At 11/10, this is a strong value play for one of the sharpest set-piece finishers in the tournament.
Over 50.5 Points @ 10/11
The data from both teams' campaigns makes a compelling argument for points. Scotland have produced back-to-back high-scoring performances – 26 in Cardiff and 50 against France – and their attacking backline, built around Russell and a dangerous wing pairing, is the most potent in the championship when functioning at full capacity.
Ireland, meanwhile, have scored 42 and 27 in their last two outings, with their attack finding top gear in the second half of the tournament.
Crucially, both teams have also shown defensive vulnerabilities. Scotland have conceded 80 points across their last two matches, and Ireland gave up 36 to France on opening night. With a Triple Crown and a potential Six Nations title both on the line, neither side will be happy to play a grinding, low-scoring game of attrition.
The stakes demand ambition, and both coaches have backlines built to express it. With a combined average of over 50 points across Scotland's last two matches alone, the case for this line to be breached is strong.
Ireland vs Scotland Prediction
Ireland vs Scotland Prediction – Six Nations 2026
Ireland's home record at the Aviva Stadium is one of the most formidable in world rugby, and Scotland's inability to win in Dublin since 2010 tells its own story. Townsend's side arrive with genuine momentum and a title dream very much alive, but facing a wounded Irish pack on home soil – with the Triple Crown also on the line – is as tough as it gets.
We expect Ireland to control the contest through territory and set-piece, with Caelan Doris and company imposing themselves up front from the first whistle. Scotland will score – their backline is too dangerous not to – but the defensive frailties that have been exposed throughout this championship will prove costly against an Irish attack that has hit top gear.
Prediction: Ireland 30 – 22 Scotland
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