Gusts played havoc with kilts all over Dublin yesterday. But this didn't deter the thousands of merry Scots who lit on the capital for today's match with Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
They were to be seen singing, dancing and, providing enough pints had been consumed, occasionally falling over.
In the Oliver St John Gogarty pub in Temple Bar the entertainment was different. Calum Ross from Edinburgh repeatedly proved his expertise at climbing on tables and diving into the waiting arms of his friends.
One friend, Graham, also from Edinburgh, eloquently described the attraction of Dublin on such occasions: "Top atmosphere, lovely ladies and good beer".
Down the road in the Pier Bar a couple of more mature rugby fans were discussing the teams' merits. "Scotland are poor," said John Mackay, treasurer of the Boroughmuir Rugby Club in Edinburgh. "But Ireland are worse," added his friend Alan Grieve, between rousing bars of O Flower of Scotland.
They would be in fine voice for the match, they said, and aim to gain a place in the Guinness Book of Records for "the Loudest Roar in the World". The attempt is being sponsored by Guinness, which is distributing 15,000 megaphones to fans to "maximise the decibel level".
The decibels rose in most Dublin watering holes yesterday, but a more restrained group had gathered in Kehoe's pub in St Anne's Street. Irishman Brian Duggan and Americans Scott Stark, Jeff Dressel, Evan Avidane and Bob O'Brien had travelled from New York for the match.
The group, consisting of businessmen, stockbrokers and a dentist, were heading off with Scottish friends to enjoy Happy Hour at the Shelbourne Hotel bar, and then dinner in La Stampa.
In another city-centre pub 10 Scottish friends were clutching glove puppets. "Meet Billy Badger, Rocky Raccoon, Sid the Snake and Winnie the Pooh," said one. "You're not a man unless you have an earring, a glove puppet and are handsome," said another cryptically.