Scotland vice-captain Crant Gilchrist insists ‘history doesn’t scare us’ as his side aim for qualification to the knockout stages with a win against Ireland 

• Scotland must beat Ireland without them getting a losing bonus point to qualify
• This would place them as runners-up behind current champions South Africa 
• Ireland only need two points to set up a clash with rugby giants New Zealand

Scotland vice-captain Grant Gilchrist insisted ‘history doesn’t scare us’ as they hunt an upset against Ireland that would take them to the World Cup knockout stages.

Ireland have won the last eight meetings between the two countries since 2017.

But the Edinburgh second row, 33, said: ‘That is the record which faces us, but history doesn’t scare this team.

‘We want to go out and do things we have struggled to do.

Scotland vice-captain Grant Gilchrist has insisted his team are well up for this difficult task

South Africa currently top pool B but Ireland are unbeaten and will look to finish strong

‘That’s the kind of challenge which gives us really special moments in our careers and that’s what this team is striving to do against Ireland.’

Gilchrist will win his 68th cap in Paris today and says these games are the ‘stuff of dreams’, as Scotland look to avoid a pool-stage exit for a third World Cup in the last four.

‘There has to be an increase in emotion as this is as big a moment as you’ll get in your career. It’s all or nothing.

‘The challenge is hugely exciting, it’s the stuff of dreams for the players to go into an arena like this with everything on the line.

‘It’s about not being scared, we are going to embrace it and put absolutely everything we’ve got into this. We believe that’s going to be enough to win.’

Gilchrist does not think the niggle between the countries will give the game any extra edge as both know the stakes.

‘I don’t think there needs to be any more edge or emotion,’ he said. ‘The question is can we deliver that nine out of 10 performance against the world’s best team? I think that we can.’

Ireland v Scotland: Pre-match facts

Ireland: Keenan; M Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Beirne, Henderson; O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Ryan, Conan, Murray, Crowley, McCloskey

Scotland: Kinghorn, Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell, Price; Schoeman, Turner, Fagerson, Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Nel, Cummings, Fagerson, Crosbie, Horne, Smith

Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

Kick-off: 8pm, Saturday October 7

Source: Read Full Article