Kidney explains Ireland selection
The latter was a big call from Declan Kidney, who could be effectively closing the book on Ronan O'Gara's glorious career. "It was difficult," he admitted. "But that's the best compliment I can give Paddy." Jackson crumbled in last year's Heineken Cup final defeat by Leinster, but insists nerves won't get the better of him this time - especially as he resumes the kicking duties which were taken away from him this season at his club. The stage is set for him to produce at Murrayfield.
Ireland have made five changes after their crippling loss to England in Dublin, a brutal physical exchange which put Simon Zebo and Gordon D'Arcy out for the entire tournament, and ruled Jonathan Sexton and Mike McCarthy out of this match. Yet they still have more experience: their starting XV has 545 Test caps between them, Scotland's has 371.
Geoff Cross at tight-head prop is the only change made by Scott Johnson - and that is enforced because Euan Murray does not play on Sundays. Remarkably, Scotland are looking for their first back-to-back victories in the Six Nations since 2001. The future of the team could be shaped by this result: should they achieve that feat, a mental hurdle may have been crossed.
A win for either side could put them in the mix for the Six Nations title, which looks more open than it might have been had Italy not upset France in round one. "That's very exciting for us. We want to be in the mix when it comes down to the wire," says Cross. There is a further dimension for Ireland as coach Kidney's chances of extending his contract for the next World Cup may suffer a potentially mortal blow if they lose.
MATCH FACTS
HEAD-TO-HEAD - Ireland have won on their last five visits to Murrayfield in the Six Nations.
- The past 10 matches between the two nations have seen Scotland win three times to Ireland's seven.
- The last time they met at Murrayfield (in a 2011 World Cup warm-up match) Scotland won 10-6, which was the lowest-scoring fixture between the two since a 6-6 draw in Dublin in 1994.
- Scotland's only win in the last 11 Six Nations clashes with Ireland was 23-20 at Croke Park in 2010.
SCOTLAND - Avoided a sixth consecutive home defeat (and what would have been their worst run at home since 1954) by beating Italy at Murrayfield in round two of this Six Nations campaign.
- Have won just two of their past 12 Six Nations games, and seek their first back-to-back Six Nations wins since 2001.
- Are the top try scorers in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations so far with six: four of these tries have originated from their own half. This is despite the fact they have made the fewest carries (146) of all nations.
- Have the best goal-kicking rate in the tournament so far, converting 90% of their attempts.
- Stuart Hogg is the top metre-maker in the tournament so far (201); Kelly Brown has won six turnovers in his 150 minutes of action so far, more than any other player in the 2013 Six Nations.
IRELAND - Have not lost back-to-back Six Nations games since 2008.
- The last time that Ireland lost the middle game in a Six Nations campaign was way back in 2001, a 32-10 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.
- Have completed 92% of their tackles in the competition so far, a better rate than any other side.
- Ireland are missing the Six Nations top tackler; Cian Healy has completed all 27 attempted tackles.
TEAM LINE-UPS
SCOTLAND : 15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Sean Maitland, 13-Sean Lamont, 12-Matt Scott, 11-Tim Visser, 10-Ruaridh Jackson, 9-Greig Laidlaw; 1-Ryan Grant, 2-Ross Ford, 3-Geoff Cross, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jim Hamilton, 6-Robert Harley, 7-Kelly Brown (captain), 8-Johnnie Beattie Replacements: 16-Dougie Hall, 17-Jon Welsh, 18-Moray Low, 19-Alastair Kellock, 20-David Denton, 21-Henry Pyrgos, 22-Duncan Weir, 23-Max Evans IRELAND : 15-Rob Kearney; 14-Craig Gilroy, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Luke Marshall, 11-Keith Earls; 10-Paddy Jackson, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Tom Court, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Donncha O'Callaghan, 5-Donnacha Ryan, 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jamie Heaslip (captain). Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-David Kilcoyne, 18-Declan Fitzpatrick, 19-Devin Toner, 20-Iain Henderson, 21-Eoin Reddan, 22-Ronan O'Gara, 23-Luke Fitzgerald MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee : Wayne Barnes (England) Touch judges : Jerome Garces (France) and Greg Garner (England) TV : Eric Gauzins (France)
