Scotland out to scratch six-year itch - just don't mention the bed bugs
Ask the bookies and it’s bed bugs that are the biggest threat to Ireland’s comfort this weekend. Ask Grant Gilchrist, Scotland’s second row forward, and he conveys a rather different message.
“It's about bringing the emotion,” he said of tonight’s World Cup quarter-final eliminator at Stade de France. ”Not being scared of it.
“We are going to embrace it. We are going to put absolutely everything we've got into this game. We believe that is going to be enough to win.”
The talk of the French capital is the parasitic insect infestation which has hit hotels, cinemas, even the city’s Metro system.
With up to 60,000 Ireland fans in town for the match, warnings have gone out for travellers to be extra vigilant.
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For the Scottish rugby team the time to be careful has gone. They have lost eight straight to Ireland, the world’s number one ranked side, dating back to 2017.
(Getty Images)Fail to win by eight points today against opponents unbeaten in 16 and their race is run. They are home on Monday.
It is about scratching a six-year itch and Gilchrist insists they will do so or die trying.
"It's all or nothing for us,” said the Edinburgh star. "There has to be an increase in emotion. This is as big a moment as you will get in your career.
There is said to be a bed bug infestation in Paris"The challenge is hugely exciting, it's the stuff of dreams for the players to go out into an arena like this with everything on the line.
“The reality is we haven't been able to beat Ireland for a long time. That is the record which faces us. But history doesn't scare this team.”
The last time Ireland played at Stade de France they beat world champions South Africa and post-match scenes of their fans singing Cranberries anthem Zombie went viral.
James Lowe sings along with fans after Ireland's recent pool win over South Africa (PA)“No one travels like the Irish, I’d say that’s a fact,” wing James Lowe said. “It’s something you can’t really describe or put into words.
“The anthems, Fields of Athenry, ‘Zombie’ at the end. It’s amazing, honestly. People are saying 60,000 Irish are travelling over this weekend. Their presence is definitely felt.”
What a challenge that is for rugby’s tartan army and how that ‘16th man’ is likely to be needed if Scotland are to spring a surprise to better even Fiji's defeat of Australia.
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Blair Kinghorn runs at Ireland in a previous meeting of the nations (Getty Images)"It's win or go home. Everyone is pumped for it," said Scotland fullback Kinghorn. "They have been on a good run of form recently, but we'll end that on Saturday.”
And on goes the fighting talk with captain Jamie Ritchie declaring: "We've been written off against the top two teams in the world but we're not going to die wondering.
“We've got to fire every bullet in our gun and we've got to go out there and play our best game and it is in our hands from now.”
Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie (centre)Ireland might have forgotten how to lose, so long has it been. But against a quarterback like Finn Russell the margins for error are small.
"Invincible? I wouldn’t go anywhere near that word,” said Lowe. “We are essentially into knockout rugby now, aren’t we?
“There is a feeling around the group that this is it now for us but complacency is something that can’t, and won’t, creep in.”
Ireland: Keenan; M Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Beirne, Henderson; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Ryan, Conan, Murray, Crowley, McCloskey
Scotland: Kinghorn; Graham. Jones, Tuipulotu, van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, R Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie (capt), Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Nel, Cummings, M Fagerson, Crosbie, Horne, Smith.
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