Sunday’s highly anticipated rugby match-up between Scotland and Ireland in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations promises to be a thrilling encounter with the championship title hanging in the balance. So far, Andy Farrell's Ireland team leads the pack, sitting five points clear at the top of the table after three rounds of play. They kicked off the championship with a 34-10 victory over Wales, followed by a classic Round 2 win against France and a closely contested 34-20 triumph over Italy in Round 3.
Scotland is chasing closely, level on points with England and France with ten points, but ahead of them due to their superior points difference. The team recorded back-to-back wins in their first two championship matches, beating England in Round 1 and Wales in Round 2, before suffering a defeat to France in Round 3.
With so much on the line, the match promises to be an epic encounter, and a close look at where the game will be won and lost reveals several key areas.
Set piece play will be vital, particularly for Scotland, who will need to contain Ireland's potent lineout drive. Although Farrell’s forwards have yet to score directly from their drive in this year's championship, it has consistently provided a platform for their backs to play off of. Scotland's lineout has been strong in the first three rounds of the championship, but this match will be a significant test.
The scrum will also be an important area of the game, and the return of Tadhg Furlong to the Ireland squad following his calf injury will be a massive boost for the team. It will be a tough task for Scotland to contain Ireland’s abundance of world-class forwards, but if they can do so, they will have a chance to achieve an upset at BT Murrayfield.
The fly-half battle between Ireland's Johnny Sexton and Scotland's Finn Russell will be another area to watch. Sexton has been consistent and reliable throughout the championship, dictating the pace of play and bringing out the best in his teammates. Russell has also been impressive, contributing to four tries in the first three rounds and scoring one himself. The outcome of the game could depend on which fly-half performs best, particularly if the match is played at a rapid pace or becomes a war of attrition.
Finally, the kicking battle will also be crucial, with the ability to neutralize an opponent's kicking game becoming increasingly important in modern rugby. Ireland has shown their prowess in this area, particularly in their Round 1 victory over Wales, where they neutralized their opponent's ability to catch high balls. Sexton's kicking masterclass at the Principality Stadium also ensured that Ireland played in the right areas of the pitch. If the match becomes a war of attrition, Sexton's experience and skill in this area could give Ireland the edge...