Ireland beat Scotland with bonus point to go top and pile pressure on France

Good afternoon and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of Ireland vs Scotland from the final round of this year’s Six Nations at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, with both teams still in contention for the title. 

Heading into ‘Super Saturday’, France are top of the pile on 16 points, but they lead Scotland on points difference alone after being stunned by Gregor Townsend’s side at Murrayfield last weekend. 

It is an extremely healthy points-difference advantage for Fabien Gaelthje’s side, though, 58 points better off than Scotland in that respect, which could prove decisive. 

Ireland, meanwhile, start the afternoon in third place, but only two points adrift of the two pace-setters, with a points difference only marginally worse than their opponents this afternoon. 

With France hosting an out-of-sorts England this evening, the title cannot be clinched by full time in Dublin, but the two teams can certainly put some pressure on the defending champions. 

If Scotland can beat Ireland – for the first time since 2017 – and France fail to beat England, the Scots will clinch a first-ever Six Nations title, while a bonus-point win would be enough for Townsend’s men if France win, but without a bonus point.

A 12th successive victory for Andy Farrell’s side against Scotland would almost certainly take them to the top of the standings by full time, and if France then fail to win in Paris, the title could well be going their way. 

However, there is the remarkable scenario in which Ireland could win this afternoon without a bonus point, and France could still retain their title with defeat – and one fewer win than Ireland – should they claim two losing bonus points in the process. 

Both Ireland and Scotland have beaten England and Wales so far this campaign, meaning the Triple Crown title is also up for grabs, with Scotland hoping for their first since 1990.