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Ireland v Scotland, Six Nations 2020: What date and time is the game, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

Can Scotland pull off an upset and beat Ireland in Dublin? - Action Images via Reuters
Can Scotland pull off an upset and beat Ireland in Dublin? - Action Images via Reuters

What is it?

ASix Nations clash between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

When is it?

Saturday, February 1.

What time is kick-off?

4.45pm GMT.

What TV channel is it on?

It's on ITV. You can also follow all the live action right here with us when this page redirects to our live blog.

What are the current standings?

What is the team news?

Ireland

Johnny Sexton has been appointed Ireland captain for the Six Nations, while new head coach Andy Farrell has named five uncapped players in his 36-man squad.

Fly-half Sexton takes on the role following the retirement of vastly-experienced former skipper Rory Best.

Leinster trio Ronan Kelleher, Caelan Doris and Max Deegan are among the potential Test debutants selected for the tournament, along with Ulster pair Billy Burns and Tom O'Toole.

Sexton, who has won 88 caps for Ireland, has not played since suffering a knee injury playing for Leinster in early December but, according to his club side, is making "good progress" in his recovery.

The 34 year-old's only previous experience of captaining his country came in October during the World Cup pool-stage win over Russia.

Leinster lock Devin Toner, capped 67 times, returns to the fold after his shock omission from the World Cup squad picked by former coach Joe Schmidt.

As expected, injured Munster fly-half Joey Carbery has not made the cut because of a wrist ligament problem.

Scotland

Scotland talisman Finn Russell has been sent home from their Six Nations training camp for a breach of discipline, amid allegations that the fly-half refused to stop drinking alcohol at the team hotel.

The Racing 92 stand-off will not play in Scotland's opener against Ireland and his involvement in the rest of the tournament appears in doubt. Russell is one international appearance away from his 50th cap.

The in-form Adam Hastings is now almost certain to wear the No 10 jersey in Dublin and Gregor Townsend has called up Duncan Weir, who is playing regularly for Worcester but has not represented his country since 2017, as back-up.

Stuart Hogg has been appointed as the new Scotland captain. The Exeter full-back takes over from Stuart McInally, who led the team out during last year's disappointing World Cup campaign.

Townsend has handed a recall to centres Matt Scott, Huw Jones and Rory Hutchinson after all three were left out of the squad that travelled to the Far East in the autumn - but Saracens' Duncan Taylor is a notable absentee.

There are also first call-ups for Gloucester lock Alex Craig, Glasgow wing Ratu Tagive, Warriors flanker Tom Gordon and Edinburgh No 8 Nick Haining.

What are Telegraph writers saying?

Tom Cary on Sexton being named captain

The appointment of Johnny Sexton as captain has caused arguably the biggest debate. The 34 year-old has won 88 caps for Ireland, scoring 791 points which places him second in the all-time list.

There is no denying that when he is fit and on form Sexton remains one of the best 10s in the world. He has, though, struggled with injury at times during his career and some believe Carbery - the Munster fly-half who is out for the season with a wrist injury - to be the future.

Richard Bath on Hogg and Townsend reconciling

Townsend put past differences to one side when he named  Hogg as Scotland captain.

With former captains Laidlaw and Barclay retiring after the World Cup, along with veteran wing Seymour, Hogg is the only remaining member of Scotland’s established leadership group who is sure to start. So, he was the obvious choice despite only captaining Scotland once before, in the summer of 2018 when his young side lost to the United States in Houston.

Townsend, who is under pressure after the World Cup and needs to rejuvenate a team who became worryingly easy to beat last year, acknowledged that he and Hogg had their differences in the past.

As Glasgow coach, Townsend sidelined the talented but headstrong full-back, even dropping Hogg for the 2014 Pro12 final against Leinster. Townsend feared that the two may have to go their separate ways before a contrite Hogg knuckled down and went on to become Six Nations Player of the Year in successive championships.

How did last year's Six Nations finish?

What are the odds?

  • Ireland to win 1/7

  • Draw 25/1

  • Scotland to win 9/2

Follow the latest odds for the tournament.

What's our prediction?

Playing Ireland in Dublin is tough enough at the best of times and even with a full-strength line-up Scotland would have been underdogs. Without Finn Russell - who, along with Stuart Hogg, is one of only two truly world-class players in the Scottish set-up - their chances of success are all but non-existent. 
Predicted score: Ireland 33 Scotland 12.