Ireland vs Scotland LIVE: Six Nations 2020 result and updates from today’s clash
Follow all the latest from the meeting at Aviva Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Ireland take on Scotland at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon as the duo kick off their Six Nations campaign.
Gregor Townsend knows his Scottish side will have to pull out all the stops to defeat and Ireland outift who have won 15 of their past 16 Tests at home and are beginning a new era under head coach Andy Farrell.
Wales have set the early running with fast start against Italy in Cardiff at lunchtime and both of these sides will want to join them in beginning with a win. Follow it live after the conclusion of Wales vs Italy:
Match preview:
When is it?
Wales vs Italy takes place on Saturday 1 February at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 4:45pm GMT.
TV channel?
The match will be shown live on ITV from 4pm. Highlights will be on ITV at 10:40pm on Sunday.
Viewers can also watch the match online on the ITV Hub from 4pm.
Teams
Ireland: Jordan Larmour; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong; Iain Henderson, James Ryan; CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn; Adam Hastings, Ali Price; Rory Sutherland, Frase Brown, Zander Fagerson; Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray; Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Nick Haining.
Positives for Scotland? I thought Adam Hastings had a solid enough outing at ten, though he could perhaps have exerted greater control when they moved into the red area. It was all a little predictable around the fringes, and despite a slightly meatier pack Scotland are not a side that are necessarily going to out-muscle a team with such defensive prowess like Ireland.
I do think this group of forwards shows promise, though. Rory Sutherland scrummaged well, Scott Cummings was powerful and Nick Haining showed in a couple of moments why Gregor Townsend has parachuted him into the back row. Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson were typically busy.
Sam Johnson had a nice game in midfield, too. I'd like to see him alongside Rory Hutchinson at some point during the Six Nations, though his combination with Huw Jones looked dangerous.
Next up...
Ireland are back at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday, with Wales in town for what should be a quiet affair.
You suspect that Peter O'Mahony will come into the starting lineup for that one, and you just wonder if John Cooney's cameo might have nudged him closer to that starting shirt at scrum-half. think Conor Murray will retain his place. Think...
As for Scotland...
They return to Edinburgh for what should be an equally lively encounter with England. I was at Murrayfield two years ago for that incredible 25-13 victory - produce a performance that good in front of a crowd like that again and they are fully capable of beating Eddie Jones' side.
They did, of course, have Finn Russell pulling the strings that day. Adam Hastings did little wrong, but I'd certainly be extending the olive branch this week.
That just about does us for our coverage of today's Six Nations action. Home favourites Wales and Ireland both got their campaigns underway with wins, with Scotland providing rather more stiff opposition than the Italians earlier today.
Tomorrow sees England back in action for the first time since World Cup final defeat, and the small matter of Le Crunch against a hugely exciting young French side in Paris. Jack de Menezes will bring you all the action from the Stade de France tomorrow, so do join him for what should be an absolute cracker. But for now, farewell.
I've been Harry Latham-Coyle for The Independent - thank you very much for joining me.
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