Winning streak, what winning streak? - Hugo Keenan fully focussed on Ireland improvement

If Ireland are on a 10-game winning run against Scotland, then it's news to Hugo Keenan.

The Irish camp appear to have been fully warned about giving tomorrow's hosts any extra motivation in the build-up to their second game in the Guinness Six Nations (3pm, live on RTÉ).

Gregor Townsend's men have huffed and puffed since 2017 but never, despite an odd close call, gotten over the line and dotted down.

For an improving Scottish side it's now or never, as it has been for the last few renewals.

Full-back Keenan, who has excelled for Leinster and Ireland in his last two outings following a wrist injury, displayed his best poker-face when asked about matching Scotland's hunger for a fixture his team always seem to win.

"To be honest, I didn't even know there was a streak like that. It's not something we talk about," the 28-year-old told RTÉ Sport.

"We know facing the Scottish every year is going to be such a tough battle and I can just remember the tough games and match-ups over the last number of years and how it's always so competitive.

"They're in a good rich vein of form and they'll be fancying themselves, so we're just taking them for the team that is in front of us this week and not really looking back too much on the years gone by.

"It's going to be a huge challenge for us. I know they're hugely up for us and we've just got to match that and bring more to the party as well."

Keenan, who will win his 44th cap tomorrow afternoon, will, indirectly, come up against one of Scotland’s main dangermen in Finn Russell, for the second time in a matter of weeks.

The out-half (below) was instrumental as Bath gave Leinster a scare when leading 21-19 at half-time of the sides’ Champions Cup clash in mid-January.

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