RUGBY: It's all rather quaint really. On the day when a resurgent Scotland are the final Six Nations visitors to Lansdowne Road, in time-honoured fashion a capricious wet and windy day is forecast for a traditional Saturday afternoon slot; a sort of fitting blast from the past.
As used to be normal custom as well, there's not a hint of a Grand Slam in the offing. Instead, in a four-way tie at the top of the table entering the penultimate weekend, today's contest has been likened to a semi-final.
The weather apart, it's all set fair therefore. An Irish win today would retain their interest in the Triple Crown, and also ensure a crack at a first title in 21 years at Twickenham next Saturday. That is undoubtedly being presumptious. Scotland, with Italy in Rome to come at lunchtime next Saturday, will fancy their chances as much as any of the other trio with two wins out of three to date.
Indeed, there is a highly conceivable scenario whereby it could finish in a five-way tie, perhaps a suitable conclusion to a non-vintage year.
The nagging feeling persists that an inclement day might suit the Scots better.
Ireland also had the hiccup of losing Johnny O'Connor yesterday with a groin strain. In what can at least be described as a curious move, rather than replace a specialist openside with, say, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings or Neil McMillan, Eddie O'Sullivan has opted for a second lock on the bench, namely Mick O'Driscoll, on the premise that "he has some experience of playing in the backrow for Perpignan".
Specifically this was at number eight, where he also played for Munster in their defeat to Glasgow recently, and not with any great distinction. O'Driscoll is patently not a more natural number eight than Anthony Foley or Jamie Heaslip.
O'Sullivan said he might have viewed this decision differently had O'Connor broken down earlier in the week, but went with O'Driscoll because "he has been in camp this week" as cover for Paul O'Connell and "knows the line-out calls".
O'Sullivan isn't exactly a devotee of the concept of impact replacements, but the potential for galvanising the backrow if they're not functioning well doesn't appear obvious, and the Scottish backrow of Jason White, Ally Hogg and Simon Taylor is the heart-beat of their team, offensively and defensively.
Buoyed by their first double whammy over England and Wales since their 1990 Grand Slam, Frank Hadden's rejuvenated Scots appear to be playing without fear, much as Ireland did for the last half-hour in Paris.
Building from a base of solid defence and Dan Parks's kicking game, a la Edinburgh, Hadden and his forwards coaches, George Graham and Shade Munro, have added a potent lineout maul to the Scots' armoury and more of an offload game.
Unlike Wales, Scotland won't be inclined to roll over and have their bellies tickled either. Ireland will have to work for everything they get.
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll yesterday made the point that the low-key atmosphere at the two home games to date were not so much due to unfavourable kick-off times as to the failure of the Irish team to give the crowd something to cheer about.
Nevertheless, it would be a pleasant change if team and crowd alike were a bit more pro-active from the kick-off. Even if the latter honour goes to the Scots, for example, Ireland don't have to take it, ruck it and have Ronan O'Gara kick to touch 30 or 40 metres from the Irish line. Even if they cannot generate a maul, or don't feel inclined to take too many risks, what about a box kick and chase?
According to their own stats, the Scottish backrow was credited with 53 of their 196 tackles against England but they were helped by their opponents being as subtle as a bulldozer. Ireland will have to use their maul, or runners breaking off the maul, target runners off Ronan O'Gara's inside shoulder and the blindside to tie in White, Taylor and Hogg to create maximum opportunities for their sharper backline.
Whereas straight-running English ball-carriers provided ready-made targets for the Scots to make decisive tackles and then successfully delay or steal ruck ball, Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll and Geordan Murphy have the footwork, offloading and line-breaking ability, along with the more direct dynamism of Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble, to ask different questions. So too Jerry Flannery, Denis Leamy and David Wallace.
Only Scott Murray and Gavin Kerr survive from the Scottish tight five of a year ago. Ireland's trio of survivors (John Hayes, Malcolm O'Kelly and Paul O'Connell) all scored tries on a day when the Irish forwards drew all the lines in the sand in the absence of the hamstrung D'Arcy and O'Driscoll.
Leading from the front was O'Connell and his recovery from a strained shoulder might perhaps be the single most important factor in today's equation. It'll be tough, but with him on board, Ireland have the means to get there in the end.
Six Nations Championship: pages 2 and 3
Overall head-to-head: Played 111, Ireland 49 wins, five draws, Scotland 56 wins. (One abandoned). Last five meetings: (2005) Scotland 13 Ireland 40; (2004) Ireland 37 Scotland 16; (2003) Scotland 10 Ireland 29 (RWC warm-up); (2003) Scotland 6 Ireland 36; (2002) Ireland 43 Scotland 22.
Six Nations formguide: Ireland - 26-16 v Italy (h); 31-43 v France (a); 31-5 v Wales (h). Scotland - 20-16 v France (h); 18-28 v Wales (a); 18-12 v England (h).
Leading try scorers: Ireland - Tommy Bowe 2. Scotland - Sean Lamont 2.
Leading points scorers: Ireland - Ronan O'Gara 48. Scotland - Chris Paterson 38.
Odds (Paddy Power): 2/9 Ireland, 22/1 Draw, 3/1 Scotland. Handicap betting (Scotland +10pts) 10/11 Ireland, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Scotland.
Forecast: Ireland to win.
