“Is it arrogance when the stats speak for themselves?”
On the week a leading English writer berated Ireland’s arrogant cheerleaders, the Irish pundits were lining up to dismiss Scotland’s chances of a Six Nations shock.
Peter O’Mahony had heard all he needed to hear before Ireland and Scotland faced off at the 2023 World Cup. The Scots had talked up their chances, ahead of their pool match, but had been resoundingly beaten and were eliminated.
“They were in the press beforehand saying they were going to knock us off our winning streak,” O’Mahony told Virgin Media, “and how they had figured us out and worked us out. I don’t think they did, tonight.”
Add that smackdown to the long list between the Irish and Scots. The overall record between the nations is currently 70-66 in Ireland’s favour, with five draws. Since the turn of the century, though, that record reads 25-6 to the men in green. When Netflix got access to the Scottish changing room for their Six Nations documentary, Stuart Hogg declared, “We’re due these f***ers one” as he plotted a Triple Crown triumph. Ireland won 22-7 and marched on.
Asked about the spice between both sides, earlier in tbe week, Tadhg Beirne said, “The Scots are the Scots, we have our perception of them and I’m not going to verbalise it here because they’ve given us ammo in the past from what they’ve said in the media, and I would be surprised if it was any different this week.
“But we’re going to focus on ourselves because we didn’t put in a performance against England that we’re happy with. We know we’re a lot better than that. It’s a rivalry, isn’t it? That’s part of the sport, we both love beating each other, that would be the way I’d put it. And it’s going to be no different this weekend.”
We caught up with former Ireland fullback, Rob Kearney as he promoted Virgin Media’s ‘Mega March’ of live sport. Kearney was asked by Enda Coll why the Scots may reckon we have it in for them.
“We’ve beaten them nine out of the last 10 occasions. We’re a better team than Scotland and I still firmly believe this weekend will be no different, if we play to what we are capable of, we will beat them. As you say, the Scottish always feel that they should be at our level, a little bit more. They can be, as they can play very well but, in the cold light of day, if this (Ireland) team performs to the level they are capable of, and the levels they have been for the past few years, we’ll beat Scotland.”
Arrogance or pride in our achievements?
In the House of Rugby studio, host Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill asked former Ireland prop Lindsay Peat, “Are we arrogant?”
“Is it arrogance when the stats speak for themselves?” asked Peat before noting Ireland had won their last night Tests against Scotland [their last defeat to them was 2017 at Murrayfield].
“There’s a lot of talk from them,” Peat added. “I suppose they are so similar to ourselves – we love playing the Scots and having a bit of craic.
“It’s funny. I find it offensive when people say Irish people are arrogant. I don’t think it is a tag we usually get. We are dreamers, though, and when we get close to something big, it’s like, oh my God. We’re such a small nation and we are well punching above our weight. Personally, I’ll defend our nation because I don’t think it is arrogance. It is very much excitement and pride, and sometimes we actually don’t know how to handle that. We’re either one end of the scale or the other, dreaming on!’
Added to the mix here is the fact Ireland are number two in the world, have won 20 of their last 22 Test matches, had been in good form until England clipped their wings at Twickenham and Scotland are coming off the back of a defeat to Italy.
Dreamers, confidence or just followers of the statistical evidence – it all adds up to Irish supporters still reckoning we have Scotland’s numbers. The take of Kearney and Peat is similar to many – most of the evidence we have before us tells us Ireland have the edge. And then you see what Darren Cave had to tell RTÉ.
“No disrespect to Scotland but there are better teams in the world,” said the former Ulster and Ireland centre. “I don’t think Ireland have to be 10 out of 10 to beat Scotland. If we play seven or eight out of 10 this week, I do think that should be enough.”
More grist for that Scottish mill.
WATCH HOUSE OF RUGBY, WITH LINDSAY PEAT & JOHNE MURPHY
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