World Rugby

Quarterfinal Berth On The Line As Ireland And Scotland Collide In Paris

Quarterfinal Berth On The Line As Ireland And Scotland Collide In Paris

Exciting showdown ahead! Read our in-depth Ireland vs. Scotland Rugby World Cup Pool B match preview for key insights and predictions.

Oct 7, 2023
Quarterfinal Berth On The Line As Ireland And Scotland Collide In Paris

World No. 1 taking on world No. 5 is the order of the day Saturday in Paris, as Ireland and Scotland duke it out for a place in the quarterfinals at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 

Both teams will be acutely aware of the various permutations in play when they take to the Stade de France. 

Currently undefeated, Ireland knows a win or a draw will secure the top spot in the pool and, with it, a quarterfinal against the All Blacks on Oct. 14. 

For Scotland, the picture is not quite as clear, as Gregor Townsend’s men will need to beat Ireland and deny the men in green a losing bonus point to proceed. 

Given the record between the two sides, a first victory in the past nine outings for Scotland would be a significant result in itself. 

Yet, despite this, Scotland will not be satisfied should it win and still end up on a flight home Monday morning. 

Team News 

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made just two changes from the team that beat South Africa at the Stade de France in Round 3. 

In the forward pack, Iain Henderson starts ahead of James Ryan, with the Ulster captain having impressed coming off the bench against the Springboks. In addition to the form of Henderson, there were reports that Ryan was carrying a wrist niggle, which may have influenced Farrell’s decision to have him on the bench. 

On the bench, Ulster center Stuart McCloskey replaces the injured Robbie Henshaw in the No. 23 shirt and will make his first appearance of the tournament, should he be called upon. 

In other news, stalwart backrow Peter O’Mahony will make his 100th test appearance for Ireland. The Munster captain made his debut for Ireland in 2012 and has been a stalwart ever since. 

Having captained both his country and the British and Irish Lions, O’Mahony will be hoping to achieve his best result at what likely will be his final Rugby World Cup campaign. 

Looking to spoil O’Mahony and Ireland’s party, Townsend has made 12 changes to the side that ran rampant against Romania a week ago. 

At fullback, Blair Kinghorn will win his 50th cap and will partner Darcy Graham and the returning Duhan van der Merwe in the back three. 

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will partner up in the midfield outside the talismanic Finn Russell at fly-half. 

Joining Russell in the halfbacks is British and Irish Lion Ali Price, who looks to have regained his position of first choice from Ben White. In fact, White drops out of the 23 entirely with George Horne on the bench. 

Captain Jamie Ritchie returns and is joined in the backrow by Jack Dempsey and Rory Darge. 

In the engine room, last weekend’s captain Grant Gilchrist reunites with the experienced Richie Gray, while in the front row, Loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and tighthead Zander Fagerson return alongside hooker George Turner. 

On the bench, Townsend has opted for six forwards and two backs to try and counter the immense Irish physicality. 

Key Head-To-Head 

Unlike perhaps any other sides in the world, these two teams revolve around their kingpin fly-halves. 

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton remains at the peak of his powers, despite being 38 years old, and he will be looking to end his hall-of-fame career on a high note this year. 

A domineering figure, Sexton is rugby’s answer to Tom Brady as a cerebral maestro who beats opponents with a tactical mind that is arguably the best in the game’s history. 

If Sexton is the controlling maestro, then Finn Russell is the physical dynamo who can create magic at a moment’s notice. 


As important to Scotland as Sexton is to Ireland, Russell is playing the best Rugby of his career and appears to be entering the same phase as Sexton in that he can see the play multiple phases before the action. 

These two players are crucial for their respective teams to fulfil their desired outcome Saturday and later in the tournament. 

Prediction 

Pressure is a funny thing; Ireland is on a 16-match unbeaten run, with its only two losses in the past 30 outings coming against New Zealand and France away from home. 

Yet, if one was to read the previews of this fixture, it would appear as though this is the biggest match they have had in years. 

While there can be no doubting the massive implications of a significant loss, this team has proven its ability to perform under the toughest circumstances.

A series win in New Zealand was backed up by an unbeaten November series and a Six Nations Grand Slam. Thus, it is fair to surmise that this Irish team is unlike the ones that have gone before when it comes to pressure. 

Scotland, on the flip side, is rugby’s great entertainer and are undoubtedly packed with talent. However, one can only go on what has been put on tape, and in this regard, Scotland simply cannot enter this match as the favorite. 

Eight losses in a row to Ireland, including a recent one in which Ireland was besieged with injuries, tells the tale of this rivalry over the past few years. 

This is not to say that Scotland can’t win, because it certainly can, but the narrative that has been pedaled recently of Ireland being complacent is a non-event. 

Throw into the mix the pressure on Scotland to win by a significant margin, and the proof is in the pudding as to where the pressure lies.   

In what no doubt will be a brilliant fixture between bitter rivals, the Irish will look to lay down a marker ahead of the knockout stages and should continue their run against their Celtic brothers. Ireland by 12. 

Lineups

Ireland

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

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

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

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 

Details

Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kickoff: 21:00 local (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)