Ireland assistant coach Andrew Goodman says there is an extra edge in the squad ahead of a potential Guinness Six Nations title decider against Scotland on Saturday. The Irish team spent Saturday afternoon cheering on Scotland to a dramatic 50-40 victory over France, which set up a three-way shootout for the championship on the final day.
Ireland must beat Scotland in Dublin and hope that table-topping France slip up against England at home. The Triple Crown is also on the line for Ireland. Goodman described the atmosphere as an 'amazing buzz' and noted the loud cheering for Scotland during their match.
Ireland secured a 27-17 bonus-point win over Wales on Friday, while Scotland and France played a 13-try classic at Murrayfield. Scotland begin the weekend two points above Ireland, chasing their first Triple Crown in 36 years and a maiden Six Nations title. France lead on points difference.
Goodman acknowledged the excitement and nerves in the camp, saying, 'It's where we all want to be.' Ireland have won 11 consecutive matches against Scotland, a run dating back to February 2017. Both sides lost their opening matches of the championship, with Scotland falling to Italy and Ireland losing heavily to France.
Goodman expects Scotland to arrive with high belief and confidence, calling them one of the better teams to travel to Ireland in recent years. The match promises to be a thrilling conclusion to what Goodman described as 'one of the best Six Nations for a long time.'
