Ireland vs Scotland LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result as superb Irish punish Scots to reach quarter-finals

South African eyes will also be firmly fixed on what promises to be a tense affair.

The reigning champions completed their pool-stage fixtures last weekend but, due to a quirk in the tournament regulations, could still crash out if all three nations end level on 15 points.

For that improbable scenario to materialise, Scotland would need to win by 21 points or more and record a bonus point, with Ireland collecting a single losing bonus point.

Talk of conspiracy theories and possible collusion was immediately put to Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber, who expressed hope there would be no “match-fixing”.

Never one to shy away from mind games, South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus claimed his side were in the preferential position.

One of the top five teams in the world is set to be eliminated from the tournament.

Barring an unlikely result in the French capital, it will be Ireland, ranked number one, or Scotland, ranked fifth, who bite the dust. Ireland are firmly in the driving seat for qualification.

All Andy Farrell’s team need to qualify is a losing bonus point while denying the Scots a winning bonus. That scenario would be enough for the Irish to finish top of the pool ahead of South Africa.

The Scots face a far taller order. Gregor Townsend’s side must win with a bonus point (by scoring at least four tries) or by denying their opponents a losing bonus.

This match against Ireland is the biggest game in a long, long time for Scotland. Pool B was talked about as the pool of death and one of either Ireland, Scotland and South Africa could potentially go home. This is what you want – the drama on the last weekend of the pool stages.

This Scotland side doesn’t deserve to be heading home at this stage. This side that has been building for the last four years doesn’t deserve to not be playing knockout rugby at the World Cup. It is just so unfortunate with the way the draw lies and the pool stages have played out that one of the top five teams in the current rankings isn’t going to be involved in the next stage.

As a player, you have to approach this game with the exact same mentality as any other. There will obviously be a little more tension due to what is on the line but you can’t concentrate on that. Everybody will be aware of the ramifications after 80 minutes, but I know that Scotland will only be focused on the start of the game and making sure that they get that area of it right. Ireland are notorious fast starters; those first 20 minutes could be the best rugby we’ve seen so far at this World Cup.

The only way that South Africa can go out of the tournament is if Scotland beat Ireland with a bonus point and by a margin of 21 points or more, with Andy Farrell’s side taking a try bonus point - Scotland would then top the pool on points difference, with the grand slam winners joining them in the last eight due to their win over South Africa.

It could leave a scenario where Ireland actively need Scotland to score a late try to progress. In a hypothetical situation where Ireland have already scored four tries but find themselves down by 17 points in the final moments, a Scotland try to boost their point difference would be far more beneficial than an Ireland score.

Ireland will top Pool B provided they win their final fixture, while the most straightforward route to qualification for the Scots is to win with a bonus point whilst denying their opponents anything. A non-bonus point win would also be sufficient provided the Irish do not finish within seven points.

Ireland XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Iain Henderson; 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier; 8 Caelan Doris; 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain); 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Mack Hansen; 15 Hugo Keenan

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan; 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Stuart McCloskey.

Scotland XV: 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Richie Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist; 6 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey; 9 Ali Price, 10 Finn Russell; 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Darcy Graham; 15 Blair Kinghorn.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 WP Nel, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 Luke Crosbie; 22 George Horne, 23 Ollie Smith.

Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony will win his 100th cap after being named in the back row, while coach Andy Farrell makes two changes to the side that beat South Africa in Paris two weeks ago – Dan Sheehan coming in for Ronan Kelleher at hooker and James Ryan replaced by Iain Henderson in the second row.

Irish record points-scorer Johnny Sexton will once again start at fly half with Jamison Gibson-Park preferred to Conor Murray at scrum half and forward Jack Conan is in with a chance of making his first World Cup appearance after being named on the bench. Robbie Henshaw’s World Cup is in doubt due to a hamstring injury.

Gregor Townsend has opted for Ali Price at scrum half, with regular first-choice nine Ben White dropping out of the squad entirely. Otherwise, it’s a settled scottish squad, with the back row trio of Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey starting again.

The three have extra back-up on the bench, though, with Matt Fagerson and Luke Crosbie two of six forward replacements included in the matchday 23. That means that there is no place for Hamish Watson despite an impressive showing against Romania. Blair Kinghorn, meanwhile, wins his 50th cap.

Ireland vs Scotland is due to kick off at 8pm BST, 9pm local time on Saturday 7th October at the Stade de France in Paris.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match on ITV1 with coverage starting at 7.15pm. Registered users will also be able to watch the match online on ITVX.

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Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of this Ireland vs Scotland clash at the Rugby World Cup.

Scotland’s progress at this tournament is hanging by a thread and they must beat the world’s No. 1 team tonight to have any hopes of reaching the last eight.

Pool B has been one of the more difficult groupings with one of South Africa, Scotland or Ireland heading home before the knockout rounds.

South Africa currently top the group with 15 points and should be relatively safe from elimination. Scotland meanwhile are in third needing at least a victory over Ireland to draw level on points with Andy Farrell’s men.

For their part a win puts Ireland to the top of Pool B but a loss leaves them vulnerable to being knocked out. Everything’s to play for as the teams go toe-to-toe in Paris tonight.