No gambling on preparation as Ireland eye Triple Crown against Scotland

Just after Johnny Sexton finished his press duties, the 10-1 Scottish fancy Corach Rambler ran between the front runners with 50 yards to go to claim the Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

With the week that's in, the Ireland captain will be making sure his team don’t take any gamble with their preparation ahead of the clash with Scotland, who are 7-1 to cause an upset in Dublin.

"We definitely won't be underestimating them," he told RTÉ Sport.

"We know some of the big results that they’ve had over the last couple of years away from home.

"I suppose they hadn’t a good record away from home and then in the last couple of years they’ve beaten France [twice], they’ve beaten England [twice] and Wales in Parc Y Scarlets.

"They’re a team to be reckoned with.

"I know they’ve no championship to play for but that’s when they can be at their most dangerous because they’ve got nothing to lose."

In fact, Sexton can point to a match 12 years ago when Ireland took the blinkers off and got pipped at the post by Saturday’s opponents. Cian Healy and he are the only survivors from that day.

A sloppy preparation won’t happen again, promises the out-half, who would get to lift a trophy in front of a home crowd for the first time in 18 years if they win.

Back in 2010, with wins over England and Wales under their belts, Ireland, in their final match in Croke Park, rocked up expecting to get their hands on a Triple Crown.

It went wrong, Dan Parks kicking a late winner as the home rans ripped up their betting slips.

"I think I'm the sole survivor from that day," he tells RTÉ Sport, either doing a service or disservice to Healy.

"But yeah, the scar is still with me. That's exactly the lesson we are trying to get across to the lads.

"They have nothing to play for