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Scotland are staggering around like Hulk Hogan after he has just been wiped out by a sharpshooter. They're not tapping out yet though. But more Scotland indiscipline - this time when WP Nel is penalised at the ruck for not rolling away -  earns skipper Greig Laidlaw a tongue lashing from referee Pascal Gauzere. Worse it offers the chance for Johnny Sexton to make amends - which he does.

Reggie Corrigan
Former Ireland prop on BBC Radio UIster

"A couple of the Scottish boys are hands on knees and blowing hard, they are thinking ‘where has this come from?’”

Wow. The hush that falls around the Aviva as Johnny Sexton lines up his second attempt is filled by groans. Yes, groans - not cheers. The Irish fans are shell-shocked as Sexton pulls a 30-metre kick from a left-central position wide left.

CJ Stander sets up position for Ireland, powering through the navy concrete wall like a pneumatic drill. Scotland are all over the place, punished again for not rolling away at the ruck. Another chance for the reliable boot of Sexton...

Reggie Corrigan
Former Ireland prop on BBC Radio UIster

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"Everything Ireland have done so far has been on the money, they are making serious yards. The Scots look a little shell-shocked with the pace Ireland have started this game."

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A little bit of history for Johnny Sexton - and it's only taken six minutes! The Ireland fly-half is given an early chance to move second in the nation's all-time scoring charts when Scotland flanker John Barclay is nabbed for a steal. No problem for Sexton, who smashes over cleanly to move on to 602 points and go past David Humphreys.

Irish boots are launching high bombs all over the place. Johnny Sexton finds touch with a monster of a cross-field kick, Ireland claiming 60 metres in the blink of an eye. Scotland make a hash of another ball that drops out of the sky, advantage Ireland in these early stages...

Reggie Corrigan
Former Ireland prop on BBC Radio UIster

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"If ever there was a chance for this Ireland team to show what they are made of, this is it."

Scotland fly-half Duncan Weir has the honour of booting this penultimate match of the 2016 Six Nations under way. He stabs one into the arms of Donnacha Ryan, Devin Toner returning the ball like a freight train. 

Quick reminder of the two teams? Go on then...

Ireland: 15-Simon Zebo, 14-Andrew Trimble, 13-Jared Payne, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-Keith Earls, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best (c), 3-Mike Ross, 4-Donnacha Ryan, 5-Devin Toner, 6-CJ Stander, 7-Tommy O'Donnell, 8-Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: 16-Richardt Strauss, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Nathan White, 19-Ultan Dillane, 20-Rhys Ruddock, 21-Eoin Reddan, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Fergus McFadden.

Scotland: 15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Tommy Seymour, 13-Duncan Taylor, 12-Alex Dunbar, 11-Tim Visser, 10-Duncan Weir, 9-Greig Laidlaw (c); 1-Alasdair Dickinson, 2-Ross Ford, 3-Willem Nel, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Tim Swinson, 6-John Barclay, 7-John Hardie, 8-Ryan Wilson.

Replacements: 16-Stuart McInally, 17-Rory Sutherland, 18- Moray Low, 19-Rob Harley, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Henry Pyrgos, 22-Peter Horne, 23-Sean Lamont.

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Anthem time. Flower of Scotland up first. Princess Anne leaves her comfy seat in the Aviva Royal box to stand and heartily sing along. Plenty of Saltires wafting in the Dublin air too. 

The decibel levels crank up a notch for the dual Irish anthem. Home full-back Simon Zebo wins my man of the anthems prize. He was belting them out like he was on stage in the Royal Albert Hall.

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Scotland head coach Vern Cotter: "I am probably more focused on the game itself than giving a review on the whole [tournament]. 

"We want to put in a good performance this weekend and we're focusing on that. 

"We're not thinking about the [IRB] rankings either - just about the game. We're just concentrating on being good on the day, because being good on the day is what counts.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt: "If we can get that top-half finish I'd be very happy that we've worked our way through a pretty challenging time.

"Hopefully that could give us a little bit of a platform into what is an incredibly tough second half of the year. 

"We're going to play the top three teams in the world in six Test matches - three of those away in Africa, where we've never, ever won a Test match before."

Johnny Sexton could move into second place in Ireland's all-time points scorers list today. He still has a long way to go to overhaul Ronan O'Gara's 1,083 though.

Pyrotechnics are illuminating the grey Dublin sky. Electro pop mood music is piercing the still air. That's because the two sets of players are here! Ireland skipper Rory Best is wearing his game face as he leads the home side out, with Scotland counterpart Greig Laidlaw looking equally moody on his left shoulder.

BBC commentator Alastair Eykyn: "These two need a big finish. The Irish started as back-to-back champions, but they could end the campaign as low as fifth. 

"Even allowing for extensive injuries, and some carnival rugby against Italy, that would be a stinker of a campaign - and no way to finish off the Paddy's Day celebrations! 

"After a slow start, Scotland are flying, and they have a golden chance to nail down three consecutive Championship wins for the first time in 20 years."

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In the past year, you might have found love, lost love, moved house, changed career, had a kid, won the Euromillions...you get the picture. The point being that a lot usually happens in 12 months. And, as we well know, the same applies in the sporting world. 

This time last year, Ireland clinched back-to-back Six Nations as the Super really was put into the Saturday. Scotland were licking their wounds after getting a pasting. Oh, and the Wooden Spoon. 

Fast forward. Now injury-hit Ireland need a win to avoid sitting not-so pretty in fifth, while resurgent Scotland should finish third if they clock up a third straight Six Nations win for the first time.

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An impenetrable home record to be maintained by Ireland. An unprecedented third straight Six Nations win to be clinched by Scotland. A joust for superiority in the IRB world rankings. 

And that's not even mentioning personal duels, landmark appearances, and the long-standing bromance between the two coaches. 

More drama than the Happy Valley finale. Thankfully there isn't a serial killer on the loose...

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