Influential forward Tadhg Beirne (left) and Irish scrum coach John Fogarty. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
There has already been plenty written and said about the obvious threat that Finn Russell and the Scotland back-line pose this week, but, in reality, Sunday’s Six Nations clash at Murrayfield will be won and lost up front where Ireland once again look to have a distinct advantage.
Across the course of Ireland’s 10 consecutive wins over Scotland, their forwards have tended to dominate, and while that is the aim for most teams going into any given game, Ireland have every reason to believe that from numbers one to eight they have a vastly superior pack.