Scotland will need to up their game from their Italy victory to beat even a weakened Ireland in the RBS Six Nations on Sunday, believes specialist coach Duncan Hodge.
The former test fly-half is now part of the Scottish coaching team with responsibility for the overall kicking game both offensively and defensively, and expects the Irish to be smarting from their loss in Dublin to England two weeks ago.
Even without five starters injured and suspended from their probable first team, Ireland remain a quality side, he warns.
“Ireland’s injuries are no concern of ours,” said Hodge as the squad reassembled at Murrayfield.
“They’ve lost a couple of players but I don’t think they have suddenly become a bad side, they are still an extremely good team. They may be weakened but that does not mean they are not a very, very good side.”
The Irish are already without key prop Cian Healy, banned for a stamp in the England game, and have also lost fly-half Jonny Sexton, wing Simon Zebo, lock Mike McCarthy and backrower Chris Henry to injuries.
“Who’s playing and who’s not playing for Ireland is not going to make a massive difference to us,” insisted Hodge. “They are going to be an extremely good side whoever is on the pitch on Sunday.
“I personally don’t have many great memories of playing against Ireland but look at the last 10 years and really, who from Scotland does? You can’t hide away from that.”
The Scots have only two wins in the championship against the Irish since 2000, the last one at Murrayfield coming in the “foot-and-mouth” game, delayed until September 2003, when Hodge was on the bench.
But more recent history, backing up the 34-10 crushing of Italy a week ago, is what the Scots have been concerned with in preparing for this game.
“We have scored a few tries, which is great and does breed confidence,” continued Hodge. “What we’ve got to do now is back that up week to week.
“It’s no good when it only happens one week and not the next. That’s not what we’re after.
“Historically, recently we have been up and down in form from one week to another. We have got to perform for two weeks in a row in front of our home crowd and while we need to do a lot of the same stuff we did against Italy, we need to do it better.
“We have to be better this week, and strive to be better every week. You stand still for a second in this game, you’re gone.”
One aspect that has been near-perfect is goal-kicking, where Greig Laidlaw has picked up the mantle of Chris Paterson.
“Greig is doing great I think he is nine from 10 in this championship and in the Heineken and Rabodirect PRO12 he’s well above a 80% success rate, which is a great,” said Hodge. “Duncan Weir kicked seven from seven for Glasgow on Friday so he’s doing really well as well.”
In open field, Scotland’s kicking game has been outstanding with Stuart Hogg coming into his own after a long spell under Hodge’s wing.
“I first saw Hoggy at 16 or 17 years old down at Gala and immediately wondered ‘who was that?’ and to be honest it was the same with Ruaridh Jackson and Duncan. I’ve been following them all since they were teenagers,” he continued.
“Hoggy has obviously got a specialtalent. He is a good footballer and kicks the ball a long way, but he’s only been a pro for two, maybe two and half years. He’ll keep progressing, and there are certain aspects of his game that he’ll keep working on to be even better.”