SCO eve of match (v IRE): Gilchrist, Jones, defence coach Tandy

Comments from Scotland second-row Grant Gilchrist, centre Huw Jones and defence coach Steve Tandy before their final Pool B match against Ireland at Stade de France on Saturday, 7 October.

Grant Gilchrist, second-row (pictured)

On whether there has been an increase of emotion in the squad this week:

"I think there has to be. This is as big a moment as you’ll get in your career. It’s all or nothing for us. It’s a hugely exciting challenge, the stuff of dream for players to go out in an arena like this with everything on the line, having had the journey we have had to this point. It’s about bringing that emotion, don’t be scared of it. We’re going to embrace it. We’re going to put absolutely everything we have got into the game and we believe that’s going to be enough to win."

On what level of performance from previous big wins it will take to beat Ireland:

"There’s a few. The way we played when we beat France in this stadium in 2021 - the way we defended a man down, then came back to go through multi-phases at the end to score. That’s the levels of effort it will require. The big games away recently at Twickenham, where we have had a bad record, there are similarities there. This Scotland team has done things that other Scotland teams haven’t done. We know beating Ireland on a big stage is something we have not done, but that’s what excites us. We have got to go out and give our all for ourselves and our country to get into a quarter-final."

On whether the 'niggle' between Ireland and Scotland adds an extra edge:

"I don’t think there's going to need to be any more edge or emotion. They are in the same position as us. We don’t need any more emotion and motivation than we have got. It’s all there. Can we deliver that 9/10 or 10/10 performance against the world’s best team?"

On whether they need a fast start, given the permutations:

"A fast start will be important. Against the very best sides in world rugby, you certainly don’t want to be chasing the game. We have felt that when we have played against the top sides - France, South Africa, Ireland - in the past. But we believe the next moment is the most important.

"If we do concede a try in the first minute, the game is not lost. It is our response to things going wrong that will be more important. We are playing against the best team in the world, of course things are going to go against us. It is how we get more things going for us than against us, and our mentality tomorrow night will be just as important as the physical side."

On whether eight straight defeats is an unfair representation of the difference between the teams:

"It’s reality, it’s what we have to face. It doesn’t matter what my perceptions are. The reality is we have not been able to beat Ireland in a long time. That is the record facing us. But history doesn’t scare this team. We want to do things we have struggled to do before. That’s the kind of challenge it gives you, the really special moments in your career, and this is what this team is striving to do tomorrow."

Huw Jones, centre

On the bed bug outbreak in Paris:

"That was the first thing I checked when I got into the room! But our hotel’s lovely, no bed bugs."

On how he’s feeling about facing Ireland:

"Pretty good. It’s been a good week’s training. We know what we have to do. It’s a great challenge but it’s exciting and we’re really looking forward to it."

On why he thinks this is the time they can beat Ireland after eight straight defeats:

"Whenever we look back at those games, there’s so many opportunities we haven’t taken. You can’t ever have a perfect game but something we’ve been striving for is being more consistent and putting together an 80-minute performance, staying alive in every moment and really staying focused.

"There have been a few games where just a five- or 10-minute loss of focus has cost us the game. We know we can’t have that, but if we also know that if we have focus for 80 minutes, stay in every second of it and take our chances when they arise, that we can beat top teams. We know we have the quality, we know we have the game plan. We can win, we just have to go out and do it.

"Obviously Ireland are coming off a really good run. We are not taking anything lightly, we know it’s going to be very tough, but we have got belief."

On why Scotland suffer lapses in concentration against top teams:

"I don’t know why it happens. Obviously we need to stop doing it. I guess it’s just a loss of focus. At this level, any small loss of focus or mistake - you see it in all the games – will cost you a try. It can happen to anyone. It becomes more obvious when the game is closer and you look back and say 'that’s the moment where we conceded points and that’s why we lost'.

"It’s just cutting out small errors and staying in it. We have spoken about our animation and communication, keeping us all connected in every moment for that 80 minutes."

On what they can take from their last win over Ireland in 2017, a match Jones played in:

"That is one of those games where we put together a performance. What sticks out from that is we took our chances in a close game when they were available and finished up on the right side of the scoreline. That is clearly what we need to do and what we have done over the past few years when we have had good wins against top opposition. You just have to be clinical. That’s it really."

Steve Tandy, defence coach

On the challenge of winning a match by a certain number of points and the balance required:

"Whether you are chasing four tries or not, the balance is really important. We have got to back who we are, first and foremost. It is trying to get those moments more for us and less for them. Ultimately we have to concentrate on the way we have been playing for the last few years, with that attacking mindset.

"Defensively we have had some huge moments, winning in England or beating Wales, and we have to remember those past experiences. We know we’ll have to be at it. Ultimately Ireland are going to have their moments in the game too. They are the number one team in the world and it doesn’t always take a lack of focus. It is how we respond and take energy from that.

"There will be moments where Ireland are on top, but we have to feed off that defensively – how can we get the ball back or repel Ireland close to the line if they get an opportunity? It is having that exciting mindset of how we get the ball back for these boys to go and score the points we need."