In an exclusive interview with BoyleSports ahead of Ireland’s second match in the tournament, former Munster and Ireland star Simon Zebo has said the loss of Scotland’s captain gives the visitors the advantage in their bid to make it 11 consecutive victories against the Scots.
Zebo believes Ireland have enough firepower to avoid an upset in Sunday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield while former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton thinks this game could turn in favour of Scotland in front of a home Murrayfield crowd.
Scotland v Ireland Preview & Prediction From Simon Zebo & Jim Hamilton
Scotland v Ireland Odds – Six Nations 2025
Team | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Scotland | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Ireland | 2/5 | 71.4% |
Draw | 22/1 | 4.3% |
These Teams Don’t Like Each Other
“Ireland will know this is a potential banana skin,” Zebo said. “But Sione Tuipulotu is a big loss for Scotland. If they had any hopes of winning the championship he’d need to be fit and firing.
“There’s that rivalry with Scotland, they don’t like each other, on the pitch certainly. I predict a valiant effort from Scotland, but I think Ireland are too strong on their day, we have too much firepower. They’ll do enough to get the win, and I see a victory by about 11.”
Simon Zebo’s Scotland v Ireland Prediction: Ireland to win by 11 points
Ireland to win by exactly 11 points – 25/1
Jim Hamilton: It’s Now Or Never For Overachieving Scots
However, former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton has warned Zebo not to take victory for granted as the hosts seek their first victory in the fixture since 2017.
“I still think there’s a part of Ireland’s psyche where they don’t respect us,” Hamilton told BoyleSports. “I understand why, when you look at recent results. There’s history from the club game, there’s history from the internationals, there’s history from the World Cup. But I do believe if it’s going to shift in favour of Scotland, it’s going to be this year.
This Scotland Squad A Team With Plenty of Winners
“Sione Tuipulotu is our best player, he is one of the best players in the world right now and his injury has thrown a big spanner in the works. And on paper, Scotland shouldn’t win the Six Nations with the strength of talent that Ireland, France and dare I say it, England have. We always punch way above our weight.
“But with the profile of this team, Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn playing in Toulouse, Jonny Gray playing in Bordeaux, it feels like now or never. Add in Glasgow winning the URC and we’ve got winners in the team.”
Scotland to win – 2/1
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