Ireland v Scotland LIVE: Rugby latest build-up and updates from Six ...

Farrell’s reigning champions are on the cusp of retaining their crown and will do so on Saturday evening by avoiding defeat to the Scots or claiming two losing bonus points.

Gregor Townsend’s visitors, who have the slimmest of chances of snatching the title, will be desperate to bounce back in Dublin after being embarrassed by Italy last weekend.

Ireland will head to South Africa this summer for an eagerly-anticipated series, but Scotland’s July business looks like all sorts of fun, too. The SRU confirmed yesterday that Gregor Townsend’s side are headed for the Americas, four fixtures against four different sides sure to offer plenty of intrigue.

Jamison Gibson-Park feels the prospect of igniting another St Patrick’s weekend party in Dublin is a “massive” incentive to help Ireland swiftly move on from an agonising 23-22 defeat to England.

Andy Farrell’s men were on the verge of retaining the Guinness Six Nations title with a game to spare before being punished by Marcus Smith’s last-gasp drop goal at Twickenham.

The “gutting” late drama halted Ireland’s pursuit of consecutive Grand Slams but they will still win the championship if they beat Scotland today.

The first match of Super Saturday is just getting underway in Cardiff, with Warren Gatland’s Wales knowing victory against Italy is a must if they are to avoid a first wooden spoon since 2003. We’ve got LIVE coverage here - tuck in!

It’ll be England’s Matthew Carley on the whistle for our Celtic clash this evening, an official now looking to kick on after a World Cup debut as a referee in the autumn. Here’s a little bit more about the whistler, who has two fellow Test refs to help him on the touchlines:

Ireland will host World Cup conquerors New Zealand and Joe Schmidt’s Australia during a mouth-watering four-match autumn series against southern hemisphere opposition.

The All Blacks, who beat Andy Farrell’s side 28-24 in the quarter-finals of last year’s global tournament in France, will visit Dublin on Friday, November 8.

Former Ireland boss Schmidt will bring the Wallabies to the Aviva Stadium for the series finale on Saturday, November 30.

Andy Farrell says Ireland have “battened down the hatches” in their quest to retain the Guinness Six Nations title after some players received online abuse in the wake of their last-gasp loss to England.

Ireland’s pursuit of successive Grand Slams ended following Marcus Smith’s dramatic drop goal in last weekend’s 23-22 Guinness Six Nations defeat at Twickenham.

Members of Farrell’s squad, including veteran scrum-half Conor Murray, were subsequently targeted on social media for their performances in south-west London.

Grant Gilchrist has told his Scotland colleagues to embrace the pressure of having to produce a positive response against Ireland as they bid to banish “a dark couple of days” following their damaging Guinness Six Nations defeat in Italy last weekend.

The Scots have been heavily criticised after losing 31-29 in Rome and squandering the chance to set up a title shootout with Andy Farrell’s side in Dublin.

Instead Gregor Townsend’s team are now chasing a face-saving result away to “arguably the best team in the world at the minute” in order to avoid potentially finishing as low as fifth in the championship.

Tom Harrison also gave his thoughts on the Women’s Six Nations, which begins next weekend with England again hot favourites to retain their title. Can anyone other than France challenge the Red Roses? Harrison admits that a more competitive tournament may be a must if it is to continue to grow.

There is a scenario today where Ireland secure another Six Nations crown despite having won fewer games than England. It is a quirk of the bonus point system that has drawn criticism from some quarters, but Six Nations chief executive Tom Harrison suggested earlier this week that they are here to stay.