Ireland pulled away from Scotland in a pulsating Six Nations Triple Crown decider to keep their championship hopes alive and end the Scots' trophy dreams.
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Image source, SNSScotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "Hugely disappointed.
"We knew we had an opportunity to play a high level of rugby and we didn't do it enough.
"I know a huge effort went in. In such a physical match, that's great to see, but we needed to be more accurate.
"We were a bit passive in attack at times and we didn't get our spacing right in defence.
"They are a very good side and they have a good record against most teams in the world.
"Some elements of today were a really high level. We'll work out how we need to play better in other parts of the game.
"This is one of the toughest places to play in world rugby and their attack was excellent today."
Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
Image source, SNSScotland are aiming for a first win in Dublin since 2010 and only their second ever away victory against Ireland in the Six Nations era.
No Scottish side - Scotland, Glasgow Warriors or Edinburgh - have won at the current Aviva Stadium since it was built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road ground in 2010. Scotland's victory that year was at Gaelic sports stadium Croke Park.
If they manage to win, Scotland will secure the Triple Crown (beating England, Wales, and Ireland) for the first time since 1990.
It would also be the first time Scotland have won four matches in the Six Nations.
Victory, and a slip up from France against England, would give Scotland a first Six Nations title, having last won the Five Nations in 1999.
However, Ireland have defeated Scotland 11 times in a row and another victory would break the record of consecutive wins in this fixture (both nations have managed 11 in a row).
An Irish victory would also equal a record run of nine consecutive wins in the Six Nations in this fixture and secure a ninth Triple Crown since 2000 and fourth in the last five years.
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell is six points away from reaching 500 for his country, a feat achieved only by Chris Paterson, Greig Laidlaw, and Gavin Hastings before him in the men's game
We asked for your opinions on title-chasing Scotland's team selection and chances of beating Ireland on Super Saturday in the Six Nations.
Here's what some of you said:
Dennis: Delighted to see Kyle Rowe get a chance. He performs week in week out for Glasgow and should have been given a chance before Blair Kinghorn given current form.
Ethan: I'd have picked Josh Bayliss in the second row ahead of Max Williamson. Not his natural position but he's been playing really well and has done a job at lock for Bath. Closest like for like for Gregor Brown of available players.
Kev: Looking forward to this. Slightly nervous about the Irish's ability to stifle the 13 channel, but if we can play with tempo like we did against France and keep the proverbial foot on the throat, we have a shout. Staying switched on, minimising JGP's [Jamison Gibson-Park] involvement and keeping the penalty count low will go a long way to allowing our backs to play. The forwards have to play as if it's the last game of their lives. Can't wait (and come on England).
Graeme: Two big calls, Williamson in the second row and the 5/3 split on the bench.
Frazer: Delighted, and slightly amazed, that Jack Dempsey is fit again! Thought he was carrying his arm at the end of the France game. Also expected a 6-2 split, Rowe coming is a classic Toony flip.
Ben: Strong backline but worried about the pack's relative quality. How many of the pack would start in the Irish pack? Rory Darge and both props is all I can think of based off this Championship's form.
Ewan: Not quite understanding the Bayliss decision or why he is not holding Zander Fagerson back for the second half. If it works he'll be a genius, if not questions will likely be asked.
Andy Burke talks through the permutations
Our man Andy Burke explains the permutations as Scotland attempt to win the Six Nations title and Triple Crown in Ireland on Super Saturday.
Image source, SNSBack-rower Liam McConnell returns from injury to start for Edinburgh in their rescheduled URC match at home to Ulster on Friday night.
The 21-year-old had to withdraw from Scotland's Six Nations squad after sustaining a rib problem in January, but he is fit enough to be restored to Sean Everitt's XV.
Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Grant Gilchrist, Darcy Graham, Freddy Douglas, Magnus Bradbury and D'Arcy Rae are all unavailable as they are on international duty, while Duhan van der Merwe is injured.
The Ulster match was initially scheduled to take place in early October but was postponed because of Storm Amy.
Twelfth-place Edinburgh are seven points adrift of the top eight and head coach Everitt said: "Ulster have been impressive this season and they'll come here and be confident that they can put a performance together.
"They've been dangerous on attack and we're going to have to play very well to beat them."
Tom English and Andy Burke discuss Gregor Townsend's team selection and Scotland's prospects of a famous win in Dublin where they could be crowned Six Nations champions.
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSHead coach Gregor Townsend has been speaking to the media after naming his Scotland side to face Ireland in their final Six Nations game.
Here are the main points:
Townsend says Scotland have "not talked about" the chance to win the title this weekend, adding "it's the final opportunity for this group to go out and play".
He insists "the belief is there" despite a poor record against Ireland but knows playing away from home in such a high-stakes game is "a big challenge in itself".
He adds: "Ireland seem to play very well against us so that's what we're expecting."
Townsend is impressed with how the players have responded to "momentum swings" in games throughout the Six Nations campaign, adding that was "one big area" they wanted to improve upon following the Autumn Tests.
The Scotland coach stresses "it's not a final, it's not a cup final, there's not just two teams in this Championship". But he adds: "It's the last game of the tournament so we'll leave everything out there."
It's been 16 years since Scotland last beat Ireland in Dublin but Townsend says "we don't talk about that. The players know if they put that effort in and they match the physicality, then you'll get your rewards."
Townsend insists he has not thought about leading Scotland to a first Six Nations title: "No. It's out of our hands really. We can only do a certain amount. It's a game for us to play against an opponent that's had the upper hand on us for years."
The Scotland boss hopes his team can play with a bit of pressure off knowing their title fate is out of their hands, adding "that's how we've gone into each game".
The Scotland boss also wouldn't be drawn on the prospect of completing the Triple Crown with a win against Ireland but admits it "would be great to finish the championship with a win and finish on a high".
Scotland "haven't spent too much time" looking at Ireland, with Townsend admitting he has been "guilty" of over-analysing them in the past.
On team selection, Townsend says Max Williamson will be "determined to play his best rugby" after struggling against Wales.
Magnus Bradbury "brings us that front-foot ball carry" while Kyle Rowe has been impressing in training. Freddy Douglas and Josh Bayliss are "unlucky to miss out".
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
Image source, SNSSo there it is - probably the biggest selection of Gregor Townsend's time in charge of Scotland.
We wondered who would partner Grant Gilchrist in the second-row and thought it might be Alex Craig. It's not.
It's something of a surprise that it's Max Williamson given that the big man - huge talent but not at his best right now - was hauled off early in Cardiff and wasn't in the 23 for France. Massive show of faith in him by Townsend.
Zander Fagerson also starts after playing a bench role against France. What's the thinking there? After so many poor starts in their 11 straight losses against Ireland perhaps Townsend is giving his team the best chance to stay in the hunt early on rather than keeping heavy artillery like Fagerson for later in the day.
D'Arcy Rae is still an excellent operator to have on the bench. They might play close to 40 minutes apiece just like last weekend. Empty the tanks and then come off.
Craig is on the bench and offers plenty of oomph. So is Magnus Bradbury and that looks a shrewd call. Bradbury is a seriously hard nut.
Kyle Rowe makes his first squad of the championship as part of a 5-3 bench. It was 6-2 last weekend. Rowe deserves it. He's been a terrific force in the Glasgow team. Feel for Josh Bayliss and Freddy Douglas who miss out.
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSI'm pleased to see Kyle Rowe in the 23, he's a player who has had to bide his time much in the way that Kyle Steyn did previously.
He performs consistently well for Glasgow Warriors, has never let Scotland down when called upon, but is more often than not overlooked for the big Test matches.
Rowe won't get the chance to make the sort of exceptional impact Steyn has made on this Six Nations, but he will have an important role to play in Dublin.
You can bet he will be straining at the leash to get out there and show what he is all about.
What a week it's been for Grant Gilchrist.
His daughter, Maggie, was born in the days leading up to the France game, when the big lock came off the bench to play his part in one of Scotland's greatest ever wins.
Now he's back in from the start to face Ireland and win his 88th cap, which will see him surpass Scott Murray as Scotland's most-capped lock.
With the blow of losing both Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown to injury, Gilchrist's experience will be vital in Dublin, especially alongside Max Williamson, a fine player but one who has been struggling for form in this championship.
Magnus Bradbury is another who has found Scotland opportunities hard to come by.
He has been a strong performer in an under-performing Edinburgh side this season, and his route into the Scotland back-row has been blocked by the magnificent form of Jack Dempsey at number eight.
Bradbury at his best is a beast. The criticism has been that we don't see his best often enough, but when he is in the mood he can be a devastating carrier.
Twenty minutes or half an hour of him towards the end of the game in Dublin could be crucial to keep Scotland moving forward.
Max Williamson, Grant Gilchrist and Zander Fagerson come into the Scotland XV for Saturday's crucial Six Nations showdown with Ireland in Dublin.
With locks Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings both dropping out through injury, Williamson and Fagerson form a new second-row partnership while Fagerson is in from the start at tighthead.
Magnus Bradbury makes the bench alongside Kyle Rowe.
Victory for Gregor Townsend's side can seal a first Six Nations title for Scotland - if France lose to England in Paris - while the Triple Crown is also up for grabs.
What do you make of Townsend's selection choices? Can Scotland win in Dublin for the first time in 16 years?
Scotland: Kinghorn, Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Steyn, Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Gilchrist, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Rae, Craig, Bradbury, Horne, Rowe, Jordan.
Image source, SNSFrance forward Oscar Jegou has been banned for four matches after "reckless contact with the eye(s)" of Scotland's Ewan Ashman.
During a Scotland maul in the second half of France's 50-40 defeat at Murrayfield, Jegou's right hand could be seen to cling to Ashman's face. However, referee Angus Gardner did not spot the infringement and it was not brought to his attention by TMO Brett Conan.
La Rochelle flanker Jegou, 22, was cited for an act of foul play and his punishment means he will sit out France's final Six Nations match at home to England on Saturday evening, with the French, Scots and Ireland bidding for the championship title. Ireland host Scotland earlier in the day.
Last Saturday's incident involving Ashman occurred before France scored late tries to collect a crucial bonus point and was raised to the officials by Scotland players at the time.
Former referee Nigel Owens was part of the BBC's commentary team at Murrayfield and said of the incident: "It definitely should have been looked at [by the TMO], it doesn't look good to be honest.
"That player will be in a bit of trouble. It should have been looked at in the game because it was quite clear what the actions were.
"It didn't matter in the context of the game, but on another day if the score was tight, things like that are the ones you want the TMO to come in for - the clear and the obvious.
"The TMO would have all the footage. When you look at it, you've got to bring it to the referee's attention.
"A Scottish player did go over to the referee and said, 'look, something happened here, we need to have a look' and the referee said there was a process in place.
"It's disappointing that wasn't picked up. Would they have seen enough evidence to deal with it and give a red card? Who knows. But it certainly should have been looked at, for sure."
Former Scotland captain John Barclay agreed, saying: "The thing that might stand against Jegou is you can clearly see where his hand is, he can see where Ewan Ashman's head is and the ball is. If we're seeing that, why is it not being looked at?
"Does it impact the championship? We don't know, but we hope it doesn't."
Jegou will also miss two domestic games and La Rochelle's Challenge Cup match at Newcastle on 4 April. He will be available again from mid-April.
Image source, SNSRory Darge insists Scotland have become used to having to win in this year's Six Nations as they prepare for a potentially decisive final-day showdown in Ireland.
The Scots have recovered from an opening loss in Italy with successive wins against England, Wales and France.
Beating Ireland for the first time since 2017 on Saturday could secure Gregor Townsend's side the championship, so long as it betters France's match with visitors England later on Sunday.
"For a while now, it's been win or you're not going to be in with a shout," Darge said. "Obviously to be in with any sort of chance this weekend, we'll have to win.
"It's massively exciting, no getting away from it. I've never been in this position before.
"I've played in a few Six Nations now and to be going into the last weekend with what's at stake, it's really exciting. But ultimately we just have to focus on the performance against Ireland and then come what may."
Scotland's last Six Nations win in Dublin came in 2010.
"I've not beaten Ireland before, they're a tough team to beat and they've been right up there as one of the best teams in the world," said Darge.
"Obviously, we're fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead. Ireland are an outstanding team and our record against them hasn't been great so we know it's going to be difficult, but we've got to back ourselves.
"Ireland will pose a different threat to France. They're both top, top teams but they play a different style, defend differently. There will be things that we'll have to change, but there will also be a lot of our game that we'll stick to."
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your questions as Scotland go for the Six Nations title and Triple Crown against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Jamie asked: We all know how Ireland will play this game. Physical up front, set-piece and collision dominance, kicks for territory, hoping for conditions like day three of a Glastonbury Festival. So the question is can Scotland's patched-up forward pack compete enough to feed the backs fast, quality ball?
Tom answered: That's one of the questions, for sure. Scotland are missing three certain starters in the pack - Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown and Jamie Ritchie (he was absolutely flying).
Ireland are trying to play a more expansive game under Andy Farrell, but everything starts with winning collisions. That's the same for all sides.
Ireland's scrum is vulnerable - they're down to their fifth-choice loosehead - and Scotland's scrum had a big day against France. If Scotland's pack gets on top then Scotland win, in my view. Their backs are lethal. Even without the missing three, Scotland will have a good pack on the field.
So, the answer is yes, they can compete up front, no doubt about it. But will they? That's the great imponderable.
Chris asked: After Saturday's match can we now say with certainty that AI's predictions are as good as Tom's?
Tom answered: I've got many predictions wrong in my time, but I'm not sure I've ever said, pre-match, that one team or the other had actually won the game before the players had even come out of the dressing room. That was tremendous. Beware my predictions. Beware AI, too.
Ethan asked: With Cummings and Brown ruled out, which are major blows, who should be our second row: Alex Craig and Max Williamson or has Grant Gilchrist done enough to earn a starting role?
Tom answered: I wrote about this for the website and we talked about it on the podcast as well. Gilchrist will start. Experienced head, lineout caller, playing well off the bench.
Who's beside him? Craig looks the best option to me. Started in Glasgow's wins against Toulouse and Saracens, carries hard and often, which you will need because Gilchrist won't carry with the dynamism you need from at least one of your second-rows.
Williamson was replaced early in Cardiff and Jonny Gray hasn't played since the end of January. I'm probably wrong, but I wonder if Gregor Townsend might see Magnus Bradbury as a utility back-row/second-row cover.
Bradbury can play second-row and is a hard carrier to have coming off the bench. I can see why that might be discussed even if they go a different road.
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
Image source, Getty ImagesWhen 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.
