Six Nations 2026: Chasing the title and exorcising demons – Scotland must seize the opportunity

The rugby gods know what they are doing. Scotland’s last hurdle to glory is at home to the team that has caused them the most pain. It’s almost like a movie scenario: Scotland trying to defeat its arch enemy. Rocky in rugby boots.

There are a million things Scotland needs to do right, but it can all be narrowed down to the physical aspect. Ireland had a lot of it in the past, and Scotland had very little.

You can make rugby as complicated as you want, but one simple truth remains, and Sione Tuipolo, Scotland’s impressive captain, made it known on Friday.

“I think that’s the game, to be honest,” he said of the necessity of winning physical duels.

“In Test rugby, you go through all this stuff about game planning and all the complexities around the plan or the kicking strategy or even the kicking, but I feel like Test rugby is very simple, you win the collisions, you win the game.

“Collisions are the breakdown, collisions are the goal, collisions are the defense. If you can win those three – I haven’t seen a lot of people lose when they win those three.

“The collapse will be a big part of it. Absolutely [Ireland] I’ve chosen some people who are very well known as decomposing pests. This is the part of the game that we need to control so that we can spread our game. This is no secret.”

Scotland has been reluctant to show emotion in its public statements this week. Townsend was particularly deadlocked on Thursday and it’s no wonder. Keeping a lid on those things is sensible. Exaggerating the momentous nature of this contest is not a smart play.

However, Tuipulotu came close. There is such power in so much of what he says, and that was the case again on Friday at the Aviva when he was asked about his father Fohey, who was in the Murrayfield crowd last weekend to watch his son captain Scotland for the first time.

“My father doesn’t talk much,” he said. “He’s been to all my rugby matches since I was a kid, but he doesn’t have much to say after any match.

“He might have a lot more to say if we lose or if I play poorly than if we win. Normally if we win there’s not a lot to say, so it was probably good that there wasn’t a lot to say after last week and hopefully he won’t say anything after Saturday either.”

Fuhi would be extremely proud of his son, but if he’s not one of life’s orators (his son certainly is one) how does he express his feelings?

“Like I said, it’s hard to gauge. Tonga’s parents are pretty similar, and they don’t show their emotions as much. It’s hard to gauge his mood about things, but I know he wants this as much as I do and he’ll be there to support.”

“[His pride] Maybe it’s something I’m still understanding. But that’s my dad and I just grew up like that, I guess.

“Rugby, ever since I was a kid, has always been like chasing my father’s approval. That hasn’t changed for me throughout my career, so I’m happy to have him in the crowd because I’ll be chasing him again.”

In his tactical assessment and temperament control, Tuipulotu was extremely sharp.

If Scotland have another 22 on his wavelength, something special could happen at the Aviva. History is within reach if they can reach it and seize it.

They’ve done a lot to get this far, but the hardest part is yet to come.

Chasing the title and exorcising demons. This is the moment they have been waiting for.