Both teams have showed promise. Both teams have disappointed. Ireland have lost the ability to close out tight games, while Scotland have shown glimpses of immense improvement, but still suffer from a lack of discipline and defensive coordination. Saturday evenings match at the Aviva has again become a crucial tie for both teams. Ireland went to Paris last weekend for their rearranged fixture and drew a game they could have won, but also so easily have lost in the closing stages. Tommy Bowes brilliance helped set Declan Kidneys side up for their first win in France since that ODriscoll hat-trick. However, a resurgent French pack and costly indiscipline led to Ireland showing great resolve simply to avoid losing the game. After the last-gasp defeat against Wales in round 1, another such defeat would have been devastation. Kidneys cause has not been helped by injuries to Connor Murray, Sean OBrien and Paul OConnell, who was skipper for the tournament. OConnells loss comes as a huge blow at a time where the talismanic lock had been performing near his impervious best. The other two injuries, however, might be a blessing in disguise. With Murray out, along with OBrien, who has been desperately disappointing this tournament after his rampaging World Cup showings, in come Eoin Reddan and genuine openside flanker Peter OMahony. Their entrance immediately suggests that Ireland would be able to develop quicker ball at the breakdown. It is not Kidneys preferred style of play, particularly as he likes to develop the maul at each breakdown, stifling his own teams ability to counter-attack, but it might just prove invaluable. If Paris has taught the Irish anything, it should tell them that their backline, particularly Bowe and full-back Rob Kearney, can be unstoppable on their day. Reddan and OMahonys natural style of play may open up more opportunities for their danger men. The importance of the role of the genuine seven has really come to the fore in this Six Nations. Thierry Dusautoir and Sam Warbuton have both spearheaded France and Wales respectively, whereas Chris Robshaw, not a natural seven, has led England amicably but dynamic, attacking intent has certainly been lacking. Scotlands openside, Ross Rennie, has arguably been the player of the tournament so far, all in a losing team. He consistently finds himself at every crucial breakdown and has also been electric in open field with the ball in hand. Paired with the eventual installation of Greig Laidlaw at fly-half, Scotland have certainly showed a great deal of attacking promise. Coupled with a fierce front five and mobile back-row, including another revelation of the tournament in David Denton, and Scotland have found themselves with 14 clean line breaks in three games; a statistic bettered only by tournament leaders Wales. Converting those breaks into tries has been Scotlands downfall, however. Another midfield and back-three reshuffle by coach Andy Robinson will hardly help continuity, but he is desperately trying to find a winning formula with his position under-threat. Stuart Hogg and Lee Jones, both try scorers against France, look exciting young prospects but so were the Evans and Lamont brothers. Without a cohesive centre pairing, Scotlands promise has not been released for years. Add in some ridiculous moments of ill-discipline and Scotland go into this game as clear underdogs, determined to register an unlikely win and avoid a wooden spoon showdown in Italy next week.