"It's how he feels and obviously how the squad feels. Rightly so, in my opinion. They were outstanding against France and we have been preparing for another Scottish performance like that.
"We'll have to be at our best to beat them as they are a side we have always respected."
Farrell on Darragh Murray, who will make his debut off the bench: "He's a great rugby player. He's very young and he's had a very patient campaign so far. He's been an unbeliveable team-mate in the way he has helped prepare everyone else.
"It sows the attritional side of the game and that anything can jump out at you. It shows if you prepare well and keep showing that you belong at this level, then they will put their trust in you. That's what has happened this week with Darragh."
Ireland 'desperate' in Triple Crown bid - Farrellpublished at 16:49 GMT 12 March
16:49 GMT 12 March
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Image caption,
Andy Farrell is looking to guide Ireland to a fourth Triple Crown in the space of five years
After naming his team to take on Scotland in the Triple Crown decider, Andy Farrell spoke to the media in Dublin.
Here's what he had to say.
Andy Farrell on James Ryan's injury: "It wasn't late in the week for us. He had a bang to his calf during the game and we thought it was going to be fine.
"We tried to get him going, we trained on Tuesday but he didn't even get to start so that was that. The rest of the squad have trained fully.
"It's disappointing for James and for us because he has been in unbelievable for in the Six Nations, and any team would miss a player like James."
Farrell on Super Saturday and dreaming of the Six Nations title: "Dreaming big for something bigger? Of course you would like to dream like that but the rest is out of our hands.
"But something is in our hands and we will focus on our performance, first and foremost. It would be nice to win something that is pretty special for us, and that's the Triple Crown.
"It's been hard to come by over the years when playing for Ireland, so we're desperate to get across that."
McAllister to make Ulster debut as Shanahan startspublished at 12:20 GMT 12 March
12:20 GMT 12 March
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Image caption,
Tom McAllister (left) will make his Ulster debut as Dave Shanahan (right) starts at scrum-half
Prop Tom McAllister will make his senior Ulster debut in Friday's rescheduled United Rugby Championship trip to Edinburgh (19:45 GMT).
Ireland under-20 international tight-head McAllister - who joined the Ulster academy last year - starts in the front row alongside Australia loose-head Angus Bell and hooker Rob Herring.
Herring captains the side in the absence of Iain Henderson, who has been called into the Ireland squad before Saturday's Six Nations Triple Crown decider against Scotland.
Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite and Bryn Ward all start after returning from Ireland's Six Nations camp, while number eight Juarno Augustus will make his first appearance of 2026 after recovering from an ankle injury.
Izuchukwu missed Ulster's loss to Ospreys on 28 February with a concussion.
With Nathan Doak still on Ireland duty, Dave Shanahan is handed a rare start at scrum-half ahead of Conor McKee, who is on the bench.
Shanahan, 32, has made three appearances off the bench this season, but Friday will mark his first senior start since November 2023.
Shanahan's inclusion is head coach Richie Murphy's only backline change from the Ospreys game on 28 February.
Jack Murphy is retained at fly-half, Zac Ward, Werner Kok and Michael Lowry continue in the back three while Postlethwaite and James Hume remain in midfield.
In a five-three split on the bench, James McCormick, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Joe Hopes and David McCann provide forward cover alongside backs McKee, Jake Flannery and Ben Carson.
Ulster are sixth in the URC table but will go second with a bonus-point win over 12th-placed Edinburgh, who won last season's meeting 47-17 at Hive Stadium.
The game was originally scheduled to take place on 3 October but was postponed because of Storm Amy.
Ulster: Lowry; Kok, Hume, Postlethwaite; Z Ward; Murphy, Shanahan; Bell, Herring, McAllister, Sheridan, Irvine, Izuchukwu, B Ward, Augustus.
'Graham comments offer Ireland ammunition before Triple Crown decider'published at 20:04 GMT 10 March
20:04 GMT 10 March
Tom English BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
Image source, Getty Images
When Darcy Graham's ill-advised line about Ireland being "there for the taking" in the Triple Crown, and possible Six Nations, decider in Dublin on Saturday landed in the media on Monday evening you could almost hear the glee coming across the Irish Sea.
Irish rugby folk never waste an opportunity to brand Scotland as arrogant losers even when there's zero evidence of it.
This annual casting of the Scots as a collection of players who are good at talking a big game without ever delivering one, is an odd phenomenon.
Scotland have lost this fixture 11 times in a row. If there was ever bombast in this environment - and I say this as an Irishman who's been covering the team for 21 years - then it disappeared long before my time.
The humility in these players is unarguable. If you have regular access to them you'll see it, week-on-week. No airs, no graces, no pomposity.
They believe they can win things even when results tell you strongly they can't. To any criticism of them backing themselves they might reply - what do you want us to say? We're hopeless? We'll never amount to anything?
For those of us who have spent years telling our Irish colleagues and pals that they have lost the plot with this notion of Scottish narcissism, the Graham comment posed certain challenges.
It came across badly, that's for sure. There is, of course, a grain of truth in it - everybody would surely agree that this is one of Scotland's biggest chances to end their hoodoo against Ireland - but in saying what he said he just offered Ireland ammunition.
The Irish players may - or may not - react in public but you'd fancy them using it privately.
Rugby is a complicated game but such old school motivation still has a place. Stick it up on the dressing room wall.
Is Graham arrogant? No, he is not.
Does his comment reflect the rest of the Scotland dressing room? I'd wager, no. I'd also bet that some in his playing circle might be kicking his behind for giving Ireland something extra to get them motoring.
This is destined to blow into something significant in the build-up to Saturday. In the media, at any rate. In truth, it's already started.
Without wanting to go all Sigmund Freud on Graham, his words, possibly, reflected the high of beating France earlier in the day and the desperation that all of these Scottish players will feel in wanting to beat Ireland.
That's the scalp they want more than any other.
Historically, England is always the biggest game, but given their dominance in the Calcutta Cup, beating England isn't the be-all and end-all.
Ireland have now become the team Scotland would love to beat - avenge - more than any other. There's history there. All of it bad for these Scottish players.
A win on Saturday would give them the Triple Crown and would keep them in the hunt for the championship, for a little while at any rate. It would also exorcise some demons from before, all clad in green and white and going back nine years.
"There for the taking" will come up multiple times in the build-up to Dublin. 'The blowhard Scots at it again. Will they ever learn?'
Graham can expect a volley if things go wrong on Saturday. If they go right, he can say 'I told you so'. A charge of arrogance won't matter a damn in that scenario.
Doak's Ireland debut 'superb for all the family'published at 17:37 GMT 9 March
17:37 GMT 9 March
Image source, Getty
Image caption,
Ireland's Nathan Doak pictured with family and friends, including father Neil (right)
New Ireland cap Nathan Doak's father Neil says his son's international debut in the Six Nations win over Wales was a memorable occasion for all the family.
The Ulster scrum-half came on as a temporary replacement for Jamison Gibson-Park after he suffered a knee injury in the first half and although the Leinster number nine returned, Doak was introduced off the bench again in the second half.
Having made over a century of appearances for his province, 24-year-old Doak has had to bide his time to make his Ireland bow.
His father played for and coached Ulster, has been part of various Ireland coaching groups and was an unused replacement for Ireland against Fiji in 1995. He also played cricket for Ireland.
"It was great for him to get on, absolutely delighted, and obviously the win as well, and the occasion, it was superb for all the family," Doak's father told BBC Sport NI.
"It was great he got on for a few minutes [in the first half] and I think he was getting into a bit of stride.
"It allowed him to get into the game and a bit of a flow to things and coming back on later on when the game was still on an edge, I think it helped him massively."
Neil explained that his son had been very much made to feel part of the Ireland set-up.
"Leading up to the game we were down for a jersey presentation on Wednesday and I think Andy and the coaches and the players made it really special for Nathan, and for us.
"He would say himself that this is probably the camp that he has felt the most comfortable in and that's a credit to Andy and the squad and the whole environment. You can see it's such a tight-knit squad.
"It's like any young player, getting your foot in the door is the hardest thing, and trying to be comfortable in that environment.
"It's been something he's been looking forward to for such a long time so now he just has to stay patient, keep working at his game and try to be the best version of him every time he takes to the field."
Augustus available for Ulster's Edinburgh trippublished at 16:09 GMT 9 March
16:09 GMT 9 March
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Image caption,
Augustus has been ruled out since injuring his ankle against Connacht on 27 December
Fit-again back row Juarno Augustus is available for Ulster's refixed United Rugby Championship game against Edinburgh on Friday (19:45 GMT).
The South African, who joined Ulster from Northampton last summer, has been sidelined since December with an ankle injury.
Ulster also expect Matthew Dalton to be available for selection with the versatile forward completing graduated return to play protocols after sustaining a concussion against Ospreys on 28 February.
However, hooker John Andrew has been ruled out after suffering a concussion in training last week.
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy can also call upon Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite and Bryn Ward following their return from Ireland camp.
Edinburgh and Ulster were originally due to meet at Hive Stadium on 3 October but the game was postponed because of Storm Amy.
Ulster are sixth in the URC table, nine points off leaders Glasgow, while Edinburgh are 12th.
Bohan added to Ireland squad as Loughman ruled outpublished at 15:24 GMT 9 March
15:24 GMT 9 March
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Image caption,
Bohan lined out for Ireland XV against England A last month
Uncapped loose-head prop Billy Bohan has rejoined the Ireland squad before Saturday's Six Nations Triple Crown decider against Scotland (14:10 GMT), with Jeremy Loughman ruled out.
Loughman started Ireland's first three games but missed Friday night's win over Wales, with Tom O'Toole - normally a tight-head - stepping in.
Connacht's Bohan, 20, was added to the Ireland squad before the opening game against France as a replacement for the injured Jack Boyle.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is especially short at loose-head with Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy also unavailable.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) also said uncapped Munster back row Brian Gleeson will train with the squad this week before Saturday's game at Aviva Stadium.
Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite and Bryn Ward have been released back to Ulster for the province's rescheduled United Rugby Championship game away to Edinburgh on Friday (19:45 GMT).
Earlier on Monday, Scotland's first-choice second-row pair Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings were ruled out.
Winger Duhan van der Merwe, fly-half Adam Hastings and props Elliot Millar Mills and Nathan McBeth will also miss the trip to Dublin.
Farrell will name his Ireland team to face Scotland on Thursday afternoon.
Ireland will win the Six Nations title if they beat Scotland and England shock France in Paris.
An Irish win would also clinch a fourth Triple Crown in the past five years and deny Scotland - who are also chasing the championship - their first since 1990.
McCann and Flannery sign Ulster extensionspublished at 14:45 GMT 9 March
14:45 GMT 9 March
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Image caption,
McCann and Flannery have both extended their stays with Ulster
Ulster forward David McCann and back Jake Flannery have both signed new deals with the province.
McCann had signed a new two-year contract which ties him down to the province until 2028 while Flannery has penned a one-year extension until 2027.
Back row McCann has featured in every United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup game for Richie Murphy's side this season, starting 13 of their 15 fixtures.
Ulster's 2023-24 player of the year, the 25-year-old also featured for Ireland A in the emphatic win over Spain in November but is yet to make his debut for the senior international side.
"I am pleased to be continuing at Ulster, the team has shown this season the journey we are on and I feel proud to be a part of that," said the former Ireland under-20 captain, who made his Ulster debut in 2020.
"I want to push myself to play at the highest level, be successful doing this and Ulster is a great place to achieve those goals."
Versatile Flannery, who can operate at fly-half, centre and full-back, joined Ulster from Munster in 2022 and has made over 30 appearances for the province.
'I'm happy to be signing on for another season with Ulster. I feel I am progressing and enjoying a run of fitness after a challenging season last year," he said.
"Our team is playing with more confidence, and the attack has been really clicking, which is fun to be a part of. We are a close group and I'm very motivated to play my part in chasing success in the future.''
Three late games for Ireland in 2027 Six Nationspublished at 11:05 GMT 9 March
11:05 GMT 9 March
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Image caption,
Ireland will face England in the opening game of the 2027 Six Nations
Ireland will bookend the 2027 Six Nations with late kick-offs against England and France in Dublin either side of three successive away games.
Having opened this year's tournament with a late Friday game against France in Paris, Ireland will host England in Dublin in next year's Friday curtain-raiser on 5 February.
Ireland then travel to Italy, Wales and Scotland before concluding the championship at home to France in the final game on 13 March.
In addition to the England and France fixtures, Ireland's match against Scotland at Murrayfield will be a late kick-off.
Image source, Getty Images
