The Albany Gazette - Doris adamant Ireland fired up to face Scotland for Triple Crown

The Celtic rivals face each other at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on the concluding 'Super Saturday' of the tournament, with Ireland gunning for a fourth Triple Crown in five years.

The Triple Crown is the prize given to one of the four 'Home Nations' of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales if they beat the other three in a single Championship season.

Reigning Six Nations champions France, at home to struggling England in the final match of the tournament, are best-placed to retain the title in a three-way last day shootout.

But either Ireland or Scotland could snatch the crown if results go their way.

"There's nerves and excitement and that's because we care," Doris told a pre-match press conference on Friday. "We know what's at stake. We know we want to get it right. We know we want to finish the tournament with our best performance yet."

The Leinster No 8 added: "There's obviously a Triple Crown on the line against our good old rivals Scotland so there is a lot at stake and with that comes nerves but tons of excitement as well.

"A week like this there is a ton of motivation, a ton of excitement about the place."

Ireland and Scotland have each forced their way into title contention after suffering first-round defeats.

But while Ireland, back-to-back champions in 2023 and 2024, are used to being at the summit of European rugby union, Scotland are bidding for a first Triple Crown since 1990 and a maiden title of the Six Nations era.

"There's no second chance here," said Doris. "It's down to how we start the game, how we get into it, a fast start –- like we've spoken about over the last couple of weeks."

Ireland have won the last 11 meetings between the teams, dating back to 2018 and spanning the whole of Gregor Townsend's reign as Scotland coach.

But Scotland have arrived in Dublin brimming with self-belief following last week's wild 50-40 win over France at Murrayfield, a match in which they scored seven tries to end Les Bleus' hopes of a Grand Slam .

"I think there's going to be a lot of confidence coming from their camp, off the back of the win and the nature of their performance last weekend, but also how they've been going over the last couple of weeks, (beating) England as well," said Doris.

"They've got a lot of belief in what they do and how they do things and we've seen that in weeks gone by and when we've played them over the last number of years as well.

"I think they will be coming here confident."

(L.Thomas--TAG)