Ireland prepare for Scotland and chance to secure the Six Nations a week early

Joe Schmidt’s leading men face a tough task at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, when the ebullient Scots are in town and with title-winning ambitions of their ownIt could be over by Saturday evening. Ireland, indeed, could all but slam the door on anyone else’s chances of the title by mid-afternoon. If they beat Scotland with a bonus point, England will have to win with a bonus point in rain-lashed Paris just to retain a mathematical interest. For context, rain-lashed Paris is where Ireland themselves could only squeeze home tryless in round one, courtesy of one of the more remarkable drop goals…