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Ireland v Scotland, Six Nations 2020: What time is kick-off today, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

Scrum-half Conor Murray will play in Ireland's opening Six Nations match against Scotland. - Getty Images AsiaPac
Scrum-half Conor Murray will play in Ireland's opening Six Nations match against Scotland. - Getty Images AsiaPac

What is it?

The second of today's opening Six Nations matches, between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

When is it?

Today - Saturday, February 1.

What time is kick-off?

Ireland v Scotland kicks-off at 4.45pm GMT.

What TV channel is it on?

The game will air on ITV. You can also follow all the live action right here with us when this page becomes our live blog.

What are the current standings?

What is the latest team news?

Ireland

Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray has been selected ahead of John Cooney for the Six Nations opener against Scotland, while Caelan Doris will make his international debut.

The choice between the experience of Murray and the outstanding form of Cooney was the biggest call facing new head coach Andy Farrell.

Farrell has opted to show faith in 78-cap Munster player Murray, with 29-year-old Cooney among the replacements, despite a series of fine displays for Ulster.

Uncapped Doris, a former Ireland under-20s captain, has been rewarded for his club performances with a start at number eight.

His Leinster team-mate Ronan Kelleher, who has not played since fracturing a hand on December 7, is named among the replacements and will have to wait for his debut, with Rob Herring starting at hooker in place of retired former captain Rory Best.

New skipper Johnny Sexton is fit to lead Ireland into the Farrell era on Saturday in Dublin after overcoming a knee problem suffered in December to start at fly-half.

Wing Jacob Stockdale, a regular under former coach Joe Schmidt, retains his place, with Andrew Conway coming in on the opposite side, while Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki have been selected in the centre.

Full-back Jordan Larmour completes the backs, having recovered from a foot problem sustained in Leinster's Champions Cup victory over Benetton.

James Ryan and Iain Henderson will continue their second-row partnership despite a return to form of Devin Toner, who was a shock omission from Schmidt's World Cup squad.

Props Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong join Herring in the front row.

Flankers CJ Stander and Josh Van Der Flier will play either side of newcomer Doris in the back row.

Cooney, Kelleher and Toner are joined on the bench by Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Peter O'Mahony, Ross Byrne and Robbie Henshaw.

Replacements: R Kelleher, D Kilcoyne, A Porter, D Toner, P O'Mahony, J Cooney, R Byrne, R Henshaw

 

Scotland

Stand-off Adam Hastings has been given the job of replacing Finn Russell.

Russell was told by head coach Gregor Townsend he would not be involved at the Aviva Stadium after being disciplined for breaching team rules last week following an alleged late-night drinking session at the Dark Blues' team hotel.

It remains to be seen if the Racing 92 star will feature at all during this year's championships but Hastings will get his chance to prove he can plot a route to success after being handed the No 10 jersey for the Dublin opener.

Edinburgh No 8 Nick Haining will also win his first cap against Andy Farrell's team while his club team-mate prop Rory Sutherland will make his first international appearance in three-and-a-half years.

Back-rower Hamish Watson and scrum-half Ali Price - both injured in the Scots' opening World Cup clash with Irish back in September - make their return to Townsend's line-up after returning to fitness, while there is also a comeback for Huw Jones at centre after he missed the cut for the tournament in Japan.

The match will also see Stuart Hogg lead out the team for the first time since being handed the Scotland captaincy on a permanent basis.

Replacements: S McInally, A Dell, S Berghan, B Toolis, C Du Preez, G Horne, R Hutchinson, C Harris

 

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.