TEST MATCH RUGBY: Ireland v Scotland

27.02.2011
Ireland v Scotland at Murrayfield

Referee: Nigel Owens Wales

Preview
Both teams will be flat out to win this Celtic clash at Murrayfield. The record between these two teams favours Ireland-slightly.Recent results has left Scotland floundering near the bottom of the 6 Nations points table whilst Ireland scored 3 tries to 1 against France but still lost.

Scotland has made seven changes to the side that lost 6-24 to Wales two weeks ago. Andy Robinson has rung the changes. The changes include the recall of veteran full back Chris Paterson, the first Scotsman to play 100 tests.

Ireland has kept much to the side that scored 3 tries against France.

Last Five Encounters
20.03.2010 Scotland 23-20 in Dublin (6 Nations)
14.03.2009 Ireland 22-15 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
22.02.2008 Ireland 34-13 in Dublin (6 Nations)
11.08.2007 Scotland 31-21 at Murrayfield (World Cup Warm Up)
10.03.2007 Ireland 19-18 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)

Fairly even contests are the norm between these two nations.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Scotland 7th, Ireland 8th
Europe Table-Ireland 2nd, Scotland 5th

IRB Ranking Points
Ireland 80.95, Scotland 77.96

Prediction: Ireland by 3 points

Teams

Scotland
15 Christopher Paterson, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Nicholas De Luca, 12 Sean Lamont, 11 Max Evans, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Michael Blair, 8 John Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alastair Kellock (capt), 4 Richard Gray, 3 Moray Low, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements
16 Scott Lawson, 17 Geoffrey Cross, 18 Nathan Hines, 19 Richard Vernon, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Daniel Parks, 22 Simon Danielli.
Head Coach: Andy Robinson

Ireland
15 Luke Fitzgerald, 14 Thomas Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 James Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Michael Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements
16 Sean Cronin, 17 Thomas Court, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Jonathan Sexton , 22 Patrick Wallace.
Head Coach: Declan Kidney

Milestones
32 year old Chris Paterson will add to his record 101 tests for Scotland.
Ireland has two test centurions playing; O’Gara 106 and Brian O’Driscoll 109.
If Peter Stringer takes the field it will be his 96th test for Ireland.