Ireland v Scotland Women Preview

What they said:

Scotland hooker Elis Martin said: “We gave a good account of ourselves last week [against France] and it feels like we have been building towards this last game, so I’m really excited.

“We have made a lot of learnings. I know, and I am, we are disappointed in some of the performances we’ve put out there, but, equally, mistakes are made in international, elite sport and just in everyday life. The best thing we can do from those mistakes is to learn from it. We’re definitely in a place to go and do that.

“We have to expect a lot from Ireland. They are a very hungry side is how I would describe them. They’re probably the team in the Six Nations who play the most similar to us.

“I think because we play so similarly it can become a bit of an arm wrestle, and I think we can have the one-up if it becomes like that. We can be really physical and really aggressive.

“We are so like-for-like in everything, so a lot of the time it can come down to who is the best in the moment on the day.

“We can bring a lot to the game, and so will they, so whatever happens it will be a great spectacle and a great show.”

The Teams:

There are two changes to the Scotland XV to face Ireland.

Emily Coubrough returns in the number eight shirt, with Shona Campbell taking her place down the left wing.

On the bench, Coreen Grant comes into the matchday 23 for the first time this championship.

The Stats:

• Scotland have the highest place-kicking success rate of any team in this year’s Championship (92%, 11/12), and have been successful from all seven of their attempts across the last three rounds
• Scotland scored an average of 5.6 points per attacking 22-metre entry against France in round four, the highest rate of any team in a Women’s Six Nations match this year
• Scotland beat Ireland in their most recent encounter in the Women’s Six Nations, at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh last year