Lenihan: Ireland have solutions to Scottish questions

While Scotland boast a formidable backline capable of testing any team in the world, in-form Ireland should have enough to continue their winning run against their Celtic cousins, according to the RTÉ rugby panel.

Ireland have beaten Scotland in their last eight meetings, and should they make that nine on Saturday night in Paris, Andy Farrell's side will top Pool B and march into a World Cup quarter-final, most likely a date with New Zealand.

While South Africa are as good as qualified, an Irish slip-up could see the world champions finish on top with the Scots then advancing as runners-up.

The permutations – explained here – are numerous, but an Ireland win simplifies the whole process, and speaking on RTÉ’s Against The Head, former Ulster and Ireland centre Darren Cave believes that, once the attitude is where it needs to be, it should result in Ireland’s 17th successive victory.

"There’s nothing that worries me, nothing we haven’t seen before, nothing that Ireland won’t have a solution for," he said.

"I think the biggest challenge for Ireland is managing the mentality.

"The most dangerous thing about the Scots this week is they will have created this huge chip on their shoulder…’Ireland don’t respect us, Ireland don’t rate us’."

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Donal Lenihan said the improvement in Scotland is reflective as much by those who aren’t playing than by those who are.

"Chris Harris, who played in the Lions series just two years ago, but can’t get into the Scottish midfield of Huw Jones and Sione