by This cannot be emphasized enough; the more spirited competition we can have in rugby union, the better. Give us all the bars, digs and scraps you have spilled in matches. The Six Nations is the perfect environment for him, with everyone enjoying beating England in particular.
When considering Saturday’s three games and picking the one most likely to hurt you, you tend to lean towards With Crunch between England and France given the fierce history of that game. Vincent Moscato introducing Jeff Probyn in 1992 with a few bases, for example. But the space between Ireland and Scotland is a lot of fun that has been going on for a few years now, a series of oral excavations trying to bring the other Celtic brother to fruition.
Supporters of both sides seem to be a little more understanding of him, getting friendly before, during and after games (which isn’t a bad thing). But on the field and through media comments about each other – and, more importantly, the subsequent interpretations and reactions to those comments – the net result was more Ireland and Scotland than Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior cutting their promos ahead of. WrestleMania VI.
It is not clear exactly when this feud started but it reached a climax at last year’s Rugby World Cup with the pool match between the two sides. With defending (and eventual) champions South Africa in the same group, the pressure was on for Ireland and Scotland to reach the quarter-finals. Ireland were like a rollercoaster at the time, winning 16 Test matches on the bounce and fresh from beating the Springboks. When asked about Ireland’s impressive winning streak it was Blair Kinghorn, the Scotland goalkeeper, who replied: “They’ve been doing well recently, but we’ll put an end to that on Saturday.”
There are certain players that it seems wise not to anger them. Peter James O’Mahony is one of them. Ireland turned up at the Stade de France and beat Scotland, driving to a 36-0 lead. A half-time melee sparked by Ollie Smith’s trip on Johnny Sexton ended spectacularly when Pierre Schoeman pushed Dan Sheehan over a billboard.
O’Mahony won his 100th cap that day and now captains Ireland, this was to be said afterwards. “They were in the press beforehand saying they were going to end our streak, how they found us and worked it out.” Pause. Then the finisher said: “I don’t think they did to be honest with you.”
In summary, Scotland are determined that they can beat Ireland and say so publicly, which is something Ireland then is alarmed by Scotland’s recent failure to get the upper hand. Ireland have won the last nine meetings and, in the last decade, 13 of the last 14 Tests.
In the first series of Full Contact on Netflix, the program previewing the 2023 Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland will dive ahead of the game. This is what Gregor Townsend, the head coach of Scotland, says in that incident.
“Over the last few years, I’ve heard a lot of things coming out of Ireland. The Irish players, the Irish media, believe that we are soft. I believe we are the team that will go for 60 minutes, and then fade. That is not happening. We have won.”
When you revisit comments in the Irish media about Scotland in recent years, you can see where Townsend is coming from. Eddie O’Sullivan was there in 2020 – “They’re always talking. They’ve got some delusion that they’re better than they are” – followed by former Scotland coach and Irish TV journalist Matt Williams in 2022. “I think there was talk about how their year was coming from the Scottish camp, again. All they have to do is close. Until they act and speak up, they have to quit because they are making fools of themselves. Every time they come out and say: ‘We’re going to win, we’re a great side’. They are not doing themselves any favors in the world of rugby.”
Finally, with the coup de grâce, former Ireland all-rounder Andy Dunne was there last year before that Six Nations meeting at Murrayfield. “I think we’re going to do a job on them. A strong performance from the back in the box… against a very vocal Scottish group.”
Scotland seem to exude confidence in their ability to win. Thadhg Beirne, the green of Ireland, was asked this week what he made of Townsend’s comments (from a year ago) that were shown in the Netflix series.
“The Scots are the Scots. We have our view of them and I’m not going to put it into words here because they’ve given us ammo in the past from what they’ve said in the media, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s different this week this. ,” he replied.
Honestly, a bit of pre-match talk doesn’t feel like a good enough reason for Ireland in dominant form to be late. this worried Scotland, who haven’t won in Dublin since Dan Parks won at Croke Park in 2010.
Dig deep enough and you might be able to point to some gripes that Scotland is not backing Ireland’s bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, voting for France instead. “Scotland took the money,” said Philip Browne, then chief executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union (Wales, for what it’s worth, voted for South Africa). “It was disappointing that Scotland and Wales did not support their nearest neighbours,” Browne added. Frustration, sure, but it certainly wasn’t the factor that got Ireland’s players out of bed this morning in Scotland a week.
Maybe we should accept that both camps don’t really get along, and at the same time pray that they keep the soap going. Best to leave the last word to Beirne. “It’s competition, isn’t it? That’s part of the sport. We both love hitting each other. That’s how I would put it.”
