Less than a year out from the tournament, Ireland look like being real contenders at the 2015 World Cup, and let's not forget they beat Australia back in the 2011 edition.

Wins over two of the top three sides in the world (as of the start of the autumn Tests) would lay down a serious marker that Joe Schmidt's team are a side on the up.

The former Leinster coach has had an impressive first year at the helm and has a settled squad who have been following a clear path for the past year.

Alasdair Strokosch and Gordon Reid are off the bench to inject some energy into the Scotland pack.

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Vern Cotter doesn't seem prescriptive in his changes from the bench.

"He only seems to make changes when he needs to. How often do you see it in games like this where there's a raft of changes around the hour mark?"

Award yourself 50 points in your rugby union I-Spy book. The rare sight of a Tongan pack being bullied is on offer in Kilmarnock. The visitors have swapped on their replacement front row and are heading backward at a rate of knots in scrums.

Greig Laidlaw sticks another three on the Scotland score as the pressure tells.

Indeed it is Big Mike (I'm contractually obliged to call him that by the way) - 35 minutes by my watch.

A year ago Ireland were "taken apart", in Paul O'Connell's words, by Australia.

In the 12 months since they've lost just twice, to New Zealand and England, climbed to third in the world rankings and dealt with the retirement of the iconic Brian O'Driscoll more smoothly than they might have imagined.

Two weeks' ago they thumped South Africa - can they add the scalp of the Wallabies to that of the Springboks?

James Standley is the man on keys for Ireland v Australia. He will be taking you through the build-up for that one very shortly. Kick off is a little over half an hour away.

Image source, AFP

It was close at half-time, less so on 80 minutes. South Africa have run out 22-6 winners over Italy - the Springboks have won all 12 meetings with the Italians through history.

The twin towers of Richie and Johnny Gray are putting the Tonga hooker under pressure.

The visiting number two misses his man and Finn Russell decides to have a bit of fun with the bonus ball, spinning through the hands. Tim Visser, on the end of the line, beats the first defender in front of him, but runs into the buffers as Vungakoto Lilo shivers his timbers with a thumping tackle.

Latiume Fosita's clearance kick hits the top of the stands around halfway. It is a little-known fact that Kilmarnock is over 2,000 feet above sea level.

Greig Laidlaw wallops the ball clean between the sticks. That sailed through to inflate the cushion to more than a converted try.

Image source, Reuters

Scotland are now wrestling their way on top in the close quarters, moving the point of attack with one pass and then barrelling forward. Tonga stray offside in their eagerness to throw a spanner in the works and this is kickable...

Image source, @IrishRugby

Kick off in Dublin is just under an hour away. Irish Rugby, external have tweeted this picture of Munster back row Peter O'Mahony arriving for action.

John McEnerney:, external Big Vern seeing his team coming together nicely. Dark horses for the Six Nations, they'll only get better under Cotter! The intensity is key.

Eclectic Jax:, external Ooh Ooh! Fit, ginger, bearded lovely in the crowd! Thanks for that.

Crikey. Do you want us to pass on your details, Jax?

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"That was very good from Scotland. Great vision from Finn Russell to go back down the blindside on that move.

"Alex Dunbar still had a lot to do when he got the ball, but a great finish and well played Scotland.

"There's the spark that Scotland needed in this second half and they need to crack on and push on from here."

Image source, AFP

Great vision from Finn Russell who cuts against the grain, going blind as the Tongan defence rushes up.

The fly-half likes what he finds down the short side, spinning the ball to Alex Dunbar who makes mincemeat of the two forwards in front of him, carving inside Viliami Ma'afu and fending off Paea Fa'anunu to get in the corner.

The angle beats Greig Laidlaw on the conversion.

Image source, Reuters

Ironic cheers as Tonga feel the rough side of the referee's whistle for a change. Finn Russell takes play up to the Tonga 22 as he kicks for touch from the penalty.

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Scotland need to up their game.

"It's absolutely in their hands, but they just need to cut out the mistakes."

"I need you to change something there," referee JP Doyle tells Scotland captain Grieg Laidlaw. You can see what the official is getting at. Ross Ford is the latest blue shirt to find themselves splayed unhelpfully around the wrong side.

Latiume Fosita misses for the first time with his penalty attempt, but Scotland could be missing a man the next time one of them strays the wrong side of the breakdown.

Grieg Laidlaw bangs the restart long, but Scotland begin the second half as they finished the first, shipping penalties all over the shop.

Richie Gray and Blair Cowan are judged to be slow rolling away and Tonga can nudge their way up to halfway through Latiume Fosita's boot.

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"A lot of the game for Scotland is going through Finn Russell. In the first two games it was going through Greig Laidlaw.

"I just wonder if Scotland have changed their tactics due to the conditions of the pitch."