Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Image source, Inpho

Responding to setbacks can often be the measure of a great team.

Ireland have done that well under Andy Farrell. In the 46 games they've played under the Englishman, they have suffered back-to-back defeats only once.

That came in the opening two fixtures of the 2021 Six Nations, against Wales and France.

They have not let disappointment derail them in recent years. It can be easily forgotten that they lost the series opener against the All Blacks in 2022. The two wins that followed, though, gave them one of their greatest moments.

Ireland also had three months to stew on their World Cup heartache but got back on track at the first time of asking with a memorable win in France to open this campaign.

The manner of last week's loss to England will have stung these players. History suggests they will bounce back. Scotland have other ideas, of course, but if Gregor Townsend's men can claim a rare win in Dublin this evening, Irish eyes will nervously turn to Lyon...

You still thinking about Rome, Kyle?

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Wow, what a result in Cardiff! What a Six Nations for Italy!

It's the wooden spoon for Wales and Warren Gatland.

For Italy, it's a superb end to a strong campaign as they end with two wins over Scotland and Wales, and a draw with France (which probably should have been a win).

Image source, Getty Images

Johnnie Beattie
Former Scotland back row on STV

The clash between Stafford McDowall and Bundee Aki is going to be huge. Stafford is 6ft 4in but he's got deft hands as well. He can bring other players into the game and also gives Scotland a left foot option.

Peter Wright
Former Scotland prop on BBC Sportsound

Stafford McDowall coming in gives Scotland a similar profile to Sione Tuipulotu. I don't think it worked with Cam Redpath last week.

A five-three split on the bench this week gives Gregor Townsend more options.

Scotland have to win collisions, get good ball from set-piece, and be solid at the breakdown.

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Gregor Townsend has made two changes from the side that lost in Rome, as Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall makes his Six Nations debut and Ben White returns at scrum-half.

Loose-head prop Rory Sutherland is among the replacements and likely to make his first outing of the tournament, while former captain Jamie Ritchie, Ali Price and Alec Hepburn drop out of the squad altogether.

Scotland have made a late change to their replacements bench this afternoon.

Elliot Millar-Mills has picked up a calf injury and is replaced on the bench by Javan Sebastian.

Scotland:15-Kinghorn; 14-Steyn, 13-Jones, 12-McDowall, 11-Van der Merwe; 10-Russell (co-capt), 9-White; 1-Schoeman, 2-Turner, 3-Z. Fagerson, 4-Gilchrist, 5-Cummings, 6-Christie, 7-Darge (co-capt), 8-Dempsey.

Replacements:16-Ashman, 17-Sutherland, 18-Javan Sebastian, 19-Skinner, 20-M. Fagerson, 21-Horne, 22-Redpath, 23-Rowe.

Both teams will be really motivated to end the Six Nations on a high and, with a title on the line, Ireland will be ready to embrace the challenge in front of their home fans.

I know it can sometimes come across as a cliche that players do it for the supporters, but it genuinely is true with this group - it is kind of a north star for us.

That was one of the key messages when Andy came into the job. Are we doing this for personal glory or are we doing this as a team and for our supporters?

We want to inspire the next generation and that's always been a theme. It will also be St Patrick's weekend and it should be a carnival atmosphere.

I remember the scenes when we won in Dublin last year. I don't think anyone left the stadium for an hour. They were scenes I will always remember for the rest of my life, not just my career.

You have to savour those moments and the players will want to repeat that feeling with another title on home soil.

The championship is on the line and a very good Scotland team are coming to try to spoil the party. There is no greater motivation than that.

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Andy Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV, with Calvin Nash fit to retain his place on the right wing after he sustained a head injury in the early stages of the defeat by England.

Farrell has opted for a 5-3 split on the bench as Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose replace Iain Henderson and Ciaran Frawley, who also suffered a head knock at Twickenham.

Ireland: 15-Keenan; 14-Nash, 13-Henshaw, 12-Aki, 11-Lowe; 10-Crowley, 9-Gibson-Park; 1-Porter, 2-Sheehan, 3-Furlong, 4-McCarthy, 5-Beirne, 6-O'Mahony (capt), 7-Van der Flier, 8-Doris.

Replacements:16-Kelleher, 17-Healy, 18-Bealham, 19-Baird, 20-Conan, 21-Murray, 22-Byrne, 23-Ringrose.

There will be an emotional reaction from Scotland in Dublin, a willingness to scrap, a realisation that a strong finish and a first Triple Crown since 1990 is still possible.

None of the current squad were born the last time Scotland managed that feat. Coach Gregor Townsend was only 16-years-old.

The issue is that we're up against a side that saw a possible Grand Slam go south when whipped by England. They won't be lacking in motivation themselves.

Win the game and Ireland are champions again. In front of their own crowd. After a massive disappointment against England. On Paddy's Weekend. They'll be as psyched for this as Scotland will be.

Ireland have won nine in a row against Scotland and we don't need to look too far back to find the last one - the World Cup pool game at Stade de France. Ireland were cruelly comfortable with our attack that night. It was a humiliation for Scotland who need to use the memory of it as a driver.

It was one-way traffic in Paris. For the story to change this time then Scotland will need to mix up their game.

Physicality, variation in attack, a flawless kicking game that applies constant pressure, excellent discipline, tempo, power. Every facet has to be spot-on.

Former Ireland back Luke Fitzgerald says he expects Ireland to bounce back from last week's defeat by England.

"It will be an amazing achievement," Fitzgerald said on the Rugby Union Daily podcast.

"They probably got a little bit carried away based on the brilliant performances by the Irish team by the quality not only of the coaching stuff but the playing group as well. They have about 30-35 players they can call on who are top class internationals.

"Irish rugby is in rude health. Two Grand Slams would have been nice but it was good for the competition, which you probably would have never heard from me before with that England against us. It was a great game for the competition last weekend with Italy as well.

"It hurt from an Irish perspective – good for the competition and at least there is something riding on this last game of the championship.

"I expect Ireland to do the job."

Ireland assistant head coach Simon Easterby: "We have a huge amount to play for and want to finish on a high. We want to put to bed what happened last weekend.

"We also know that Scotland will be smarting after that defeat by Italy, who deserved that result. We know their back three can create problems with Finn Russell pulling the strings and when he's on form it's difficult to stop their momentum."

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "There is a determination to be better. It is tough going through the reviews [when you lose]. But the players have been aligned about where we can improve, and there is no better challenge than Ireland away.

"We have shown the best parts of ourselves in this championship at times, but we have also let our concentration slip and if we do that at the weekend we are not going to come away with a win."

It's been all Ireland in recent years.

BBC Sounds

Use the podcasts button on the BBC Sounds app to find 'All Day Rugby', a daily curated playlist keeping you up to date with the latest analysis, reaction and chat from the Six Nations.

The perfect rugby fix in-between matches.

The link is here.

The Aviva Stadium is looking well on this showery St Patrick's Day weekend.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Ireland missed out on the Under-20 Six Nations title despite a hard-fought 36-0 win over bottom side Scotland.

England claimed the championship by a single point by defeating France 45-31 in Pau.

Hugo McLaughlin scored the only try of the first half as Ireland took a 7-0 lead at Musgrave Park in Cork.

But they took command in the second period as tries from Evan O'Connell, Danny Sheahan (2) and Sean Edogbo sealed the bonus-point success.

Ireland, despite missing out on a third consecutive title, are now unbeaten in 15 games in the Six Nations.

In the first of three Super Saturday matches, Italy are on course to end a strong Six Nations campaign on a high.

Monty Iaone's try and two kicks from Paolo Garbisi gave the Italians on a 11-0 half-time lead in Cardiff.

Lorenzo Pani then touched down to move Italy further clear and there is about 20 minutes to play.

Wales, on the other hand, will be facing the wooden spoon unless they can turn this one around.

Here's how things stand ahead of kick-off.

This isn't taking into account the match currently going on between Wales and Italy, which the Italians currently lead 18-0.

Image source, Getty Images

Here we go!

Ireland missed out on securing the Six Nations title a week early against England last weekend.

Now they will look to finish the job against Scotland on home turf.

Ireland are in pole position to retain their crown by avoiding defeat or by gaining two bonus points against Scotland in the 16:45 GMT game in Dublin.

England, who begin the weekend four points behind Ireland, need Andy Farrell's side to slip up and would then need to secure a bonus-point win in France in the final fixture at 20:00 GMT.

Scotland and France are also still in the title mix but Ireland's vastly superior points difference makes their chances of snatching the title highly unlikely.

It has the potential to be very, very simple or very, very mad.