The Irish psyche to be badly damaged
Still, back-rower Josh Strauss — back in the side following Sam Skinner’s injury — has called for Scotland to replicate England’s physicality while mentioning that the key to victory over Ireland in 2017 was all about unsettling them early on at the breakdown and in the collisions.
How they could do with John Barclay, who is out with a longterm injury, now and a lot will rest on Strauss, Ryan Wilson and the returned Jonny Gray to bring this muscular presence.
But to take Ireland down, more will be needed. Russell has to be at his playmaking best and though he was on fire against Italy, the Racing 92 out-half did pretty much have something close to an armchair ride.
But if skipper Greig Laidlaw can also hit the mark again, and afford Russell time and space while also taking the heat off him if necessary, then the Scots could be in business.
Bringing their pretty decent looking back-three into the game at every opportunity with a fitagain Sean Maitland alongside Seymour and the at times unplayable Hogg looks pivotal.
Their bench lacks a fearsome-looking edge, but Kinghorn might have plenty of motivation to show Townsend that he shouldn’t have been dropped after scoring a hat-trick.
The fear is that Scotland just won’t have the artillery to win and yet this also represents a chance to have a tilt at a side whose confidence must be shaken.
Start well and the Scots have a chance, otherwise they can only hope that Ireland are fatally damaged from England and that probably seems too tall an order.