Pool B has already seen one of the great tension-filled, top-quality, high-stakes Rugby World Cup matches at Stade de France. South Africa versus Ireland, world champions against the number one ranked side, was one for the ages. Two weeks later, at the same venue and with the stakes higher still, it is very possible the same pool could produce another.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made two changes to his starting side, with Iain Henderson coming into the second row for James Ryan, and Dan Sheehan taking over at hooker from Ronan Kelleher. Flanker Peter O’Mahony will win his 100th Ireland cap.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said that Ireland want to win: "We want to win. It’s a massive game, so important to us and obviously to the travelling fans and the people back home. Fortunately we have Iain Henderson who is good at maths so we're across everything as far as that's concerned. But the easiest thing is to make sure we perform well and deserve to win the game outright."
Scotland have picked themselves up after their opening round defeat to South Africa to record two bonus point wins in a row and give themselves a shot at the last eight. To get there, they have to beat Ireland – something they haven’t managed since 2017.
Second-row Grant Gilchrist, scrum-half Ali Price and right-wing Darcy Graham retain their places in the starting XV after the 84-0 win over Romania, in Gregor Townsend squad, with captain Jamie Ritchie returning at blindside flanker.
Scotland head coach, Gregor Townsend said his side knows what is expected from them: "We have got to deliver what we feel we are capable of which is their best performance as a team when it counts. They are in great physical shape, they have been training really hard for weeks and months and I believe we have had enough experiences now, both good and bad, to handle this occasion. The ups and downs of a Test match, the physicality, the intensity and the accuracy which will be needed this weekend. We are really behind this team."
Teams:
Ireland: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Iain Henderson, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Mack Hansen, 15 Hugo Keenan. Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Stuart McCloskey.
Scotland: 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c), 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey, 9 Ali Price, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Darcy Graham, 15 Blair Kinghorn. 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.