Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer

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When Darcy Graham's ill-advised line about Ireland being "there for the taking" in the Triple Crown, and possible Six Nations, decider in Dublin on Saturday landed in the media on Monday evening you could almost hear the glee coming across the Irish Sea.

Irish rugby folk never waste an opportunity to brand Scotland as arrogant losers even when there's zero evidence of it.

This annual casting of the Scots as a collection of players who are good at talking a big game without ever delivering one, is an odd phenomenon.

Scotland have lost this fixture 11 times in a row. If there was ever bombast in this environment - and I say this as an Irishman who's been covering the team for 21 years - then it disappeared long before my time.

The humility in these players is unarguable. If you have regular access to them you'll see it, week-on-week. No airs, no graces, no pomposity.

They believe they can win things even when results tell you strongly they can't. To any criticism of them backing themselves they might reply - what do you want us to say? We're hopeless? We'll never amount to anything?

For those of us who have spent years telling our Irish colleagues and pals that they have lost the plot with this notion of Scottish narcissism, the Graham comment posed certain challenges.

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In their last victory in Dublin, Scotland avoided the Six Nations Wooden Spoon and denied Ireland a Triple Crown by winning 23-20 at Croke Park thanks to a last-gasp Dan Parks penalty.

Scotland led 14-7 at half-time through a Johnnie Beattie try and two penalties and a drop-goal by Dan Parks.

Brian O'Driscoll scored an early try which Jonathan Sexton converted.

Parks and Sexton swapped penalties before Tommy Bowe's converted try made it 17-17 and Parks and Ronan O'Gara hit further kicks before Parks' winner.

It ensured Scotland were finally rewarded with a victory from a rollercoaster campaign which saw them lose leads against Wales, Italy and England in the closing stages.

Ireland, who were hoping to celebrate their final game at Croke Park by securing a fifth Triple Crown in seven years, were left to reflect on a fourth defeat in 14 games at their temporary home.

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It's been one-way traffic over the last 10 meetings.

Will that change today?

The fans are bringing the colour in Dublin.

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Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan speaking on ITV: "It's brilliant to have the opportunity to win the Triple Crown on the last day and two hungry teams will go at it today. Scotland have been unbelievable in the last few weeks so we need to make sure we're at our best.

"I think it will be about defence today they are very good side that get to space quickly and are able to do it very well so we need to cover that space and get our attack right as well."

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Andy Farrell says he expects Bundee Aki to sign a new Ireland deal after recalling the centre to his squad to face Scotland in Saturday's Triple Crown decider.

Aki's centralised contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union expires at the end of the season.

The Connacht centre has been integral to Ireland's recent success but will be 37 by the time of the next rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.

When asked if he believes both Aki and Leinster wing James Lowe, who has also been linked with an Ireland exit at the end of the season, will agree new deals, Farrell said: "Yes, I do.

"Obviously that's not up to me to comment on but I'm sure these things will get done down the line.

"They've been fantastic players for us, servants for Irish rugby and will continue to be."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium

When they left Paris five weeks ago, tails between legs after a 36-14 drubbing by France, few could have predicted that Ireland would enter Super Saturday with a chance of winning silverware.

But in a tournament full of seismic shocks and double-take scorelines, they have managed to remain a factor going into this weekend's crescendo.

Scotland's journey to this point bears striking similarities.

Like Ireland, they started the campaign with a stinker, their 18-15 defeat by Italy at a rain-lashed Stadio Olimpico inviting fierce criticism of Gregor Townsend and his players.

But both teams have shown impressive resolve, delivered statement, narrative-shifting performances and even ground out wins when not at their best.

Rory Best
Former Ireland captain on ITV

Finn Russell is going to have the accuracy today because there is no doubt he can be a big difference. If he is accurate, Scotland play incredibly well. He is one of the best 10s in the world when he is on form.

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Despite only playing four fixtures, Scotland's tally of 16 is their best under the tenure of Gregor Townsend.

Their previous best was 15, which happened in 2021 and 2023.

If they could win today it would be the first time Scotland have won four Championship matches in a row since the Grand Slam in 1990.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium

The last time Scotland visited Ireland in the Six Nations, in 2024, the mood music around Gregor Townsend's side was unmistakably solemn.

Having arrived in Dublin on the back of a rare defeat by Italy which effectively killed their title dream, Scottish woes deepened when Ireland ran out 17-13 winners to retain the championship.

This year, Scotland opened with another defeat in Rome, but having bounced back with victories over England and Wales, last week's stunning destruction of France has raised Scottish hopes of a first title in the Six Nations era and an end to their 36-year wait for the Triple Crown.

For that to happen, however, they must beat Ireland for the first time since 2017 and hope that France slip up against England in the late game (20:10).

Like Scotland, Ireland began the tournament in dispiriting fashion, losing heavily to France in Paris.

But wins over Italy, England and Wales have kept alive Irish title aspirations while setting up a Triple Crown shootout against the Scots.

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Ireland back-row Jack Conan is wary of threat of Scotland fly-half Finn Russell, describing him as a player who can "pull a rabbit out of a hat".

Russell was instrumental in Scotland's thrilling 50-40 win over France at Murrayfield last weekend and will look to have a similar impact when Gregor Townsend's side face Ireland.

Both sides are eyeing up the Triple Crown and have an outside chance of a championship title and Conan, who played with Russell on the British and Irish Lions tour in the summer, knows Andy Farrell's side must stifle his influence to claim a win.

"[He's a] Fantastic player and someone if you give time and space to, he can pick any lock and pull a rabbit out of a hat and do wonderful things," Conan said.

"When his team is on the front foot, he looks fantastic. He's a great fella and unbelievable rugby player, all the ability in the world and playing really well.

"He takes that good and bad in his stride and keeps going, so looking forward to facing him at the weekend."

Scotland Rugby

Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist form a new-look second row, and Zander Fagerson is back in the starting XV, as Scotland chase the victory away to Ireland that could lead to a first Six Nations title.

Locks Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, who started in the wins over England and France, are ruled out through injury.

Gilchrist will win his 88th cap, becoming Scotland's all-time record appearance maker for a second row. Williamson is given a second chance after his early removal in the comeback victory in Wales.

Having come off the bench at the halfway stage against France, Zander Fagerson reclaims his place from D'Arcy Rae.

Winger Kyle Steyn, who has scored three tries in the tournament, is fit after going off with a gashed leg last weekend.

Scotland: Kinghorn, Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Steyn, Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Gilchrist, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Rae, Craig, Bradbury, Horne, Rowe, Jordan.

Brian O'Driscoll
Former Ireland captain on TNT Sport

This championship has been right up there with the peaks and throughs of it. The two teams that play today performed so miserably in round one and then bounced back with three victories.

I think we have never had a Six Nations with six really strong teams, we're not there yet Wales have had a bit of decline but with their potential emergence and Italy playing as well as they have this is a championship for the ages.

BBC Sounds

You can listen to today's game on BBC Sounds, with numerous options for coverage.

The game is live on BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Scotland.

You can choose your preferred choice of listening at the top of this page or on BBC Sounds.

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says today's Triple Crown decider against Scotland represents an opportunity to see how his side handle the pressure of needing a big result with the World Cup just a year and a half away.

The Irish are aiming to complete a trio of Six Nations victories over England, Wales and Scotland for the second successive year, while Scotland will try to achieve the feat for the first time since 1990.

"You should never underestimate going for a Triple Crown. It's huge and it means a lot to us, but it's also going to mean a lot to them as well," said Farrell after watching his team defeat Wales 27-17 on Friday.

"What's coming down the line in the next 18 months, coming into the last week with the Triple Crown on the line, it's going to be the type of pressure that we want to be able to deal with.

"The record [against Scotland] becomes irrelevant when next week comes around, because they're a great side, a talented side, they're well coached, they've had some big wins."

Ireland Rugby

Ireland lock James Ryan has been ruled out as head coach Andy Farrell makes four changes for today's game.

Ryan started Ireland's wins over Italy, England and Wales, but he was not considered for selection to face the Scots because of a calf injury.

Joe McCarthy returns to the line-up to partner Tadhg Beirne in the second row, with Darragh Murray set to make his Six Nations debut off the bench.

Hooker Dan Sheehan and flanker Josh van der Flier also return to the pack as Ronan Kelleher and Nick Timoney drop to the bench.

Tommy O'Brien is named on the left wing in Farrell's only backline change, while Bundee Aki is recalled to the bench.

Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, O'Brien; Crowley, Gibson-Park; O'Toole, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Beirne, Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, Milne, Bealham, Murray, Timoney, Casey, Frawley, Aki.