Six Nations 2026: How did the Scots beat ‘enemy’ Ireland for the first time in 12 meetings?

In the match against France, Scotland only awarded four penalties, which is astonishing. They had 100% run efficiency, which is also amazing.

They conceded just nine turnovers, which is almost unbelievable. Their typical number will be in the mid to upper teens.

Their points for each entry into France’s No. 22 were off the scale. 5.6 points per entry.

These numbers will not be repeated in Dublin, or perhaps ever again, but Scotland needs a high level of ruthlessness in everything it does.

They average 3.5 points per entry, which is still excellent. Ireland 2.9. In full flow, they are lethal – nine tries in the first stage compared to Ireland’s.

The way the Irish attacked in their dismantling of England at Twickenham was reminiscent of their best days, but was predictable against Wales last Friday.

Former Irish winger Shane Horgan explained on the Second Captains podcast that Ireland’s drive for England’s jugular was “in some ways a product of the fear that if we don’t go after this, we could hide out here”.

“Carrying the ball is back to Ireland’s best players – options on both flanks, offside passes, balls out from the back, repetitive plays, fake repetitive plays,” Horgan said.

“They played very aggressively but they played individually and Ireland are less dangerous when they do that.”

Isolated ball-carriers will not be to Ireland’s advantage. Thanks to their fast ball and disorganized play, Scotland are a force to be reckoned with.

What they cannot do is return to the old narrative – giving Ireland soft points through failed formations and letting them off the hook by dropping the ball over their try line or failing to execute a simple pass that would have achieved a certain score.

Ireland have been too good for Scotland for the longest time, but boy, Scotland have been their own worst enemy in some of those losses.