Ireland treats match vs Scotland as decider

Ireland is treating its final Six Nations match against Scotland on Saturday as a championship decider - even though it is unlikely to be anything of the sort.

Only a surprise win for a so-far unimpressive England side in France can give Ireland the slimmest chance of retaining the title it won last season for the first time in 24 years.

Victory over last-place and winless Scotland would still give Ireland the prestigious Triple Crown awarded for beating the other three British Isles sides.

Ireland's 2009 Grand Slam win was its first since 1948 and it has beaten all the other so-called home unions only 10 times since the competition began in 1883, with gaps as large as 49 and 33 years between Triple Crowns.

"We're playing Scotland in a one-off test match which we see as a final," Ireland coach Declan Kidney said. "The Scots are known for ruining Irish parties and they'll want to do that once more."

Ireland needs a 50-point swing in its favor against France along with an English victory to finish in first place, so Saturday's match is more about pride.

"To be in the position of challenging for a Triple Crown is surreal," Ireland wing Keith Earls said. "My father remembers 1985 and now I have a chance to go down in history as well.

"It's a brilliant feeling but it will be a tough day."

Kidney has picked the same team for a third straight match ahead of Ireland's final Six Nations match at Croke Park before it returns to its traditional Landsdowne Road home later this year.

Gordon D'Arcy trained fully Thursday and looks set to continue at inside center despite the heavy bruising above his left knee sustained during last weekend's 27-12 victory over Wales.

Earls, who scored two tries against the Welsh, and flanker David Wallace are included despite sustaining calf and eye injuries on Saturday.

With only last week's 15-15 draw against England in its favor, Scotland needs victory to avoid finishing last.

It picked an unchanged team but may have to withdraw flanker Kelly Brown if he fails to recover from a clash of heads with England wing Ugo Monye.

Scotland center Nick De Luca said his team needs to stop star Ireland center Brian O'Driscoll to have any chance of just a second win in 11 meetings with Ireland.

"If our pack stops him getting the ball, then job done," De Luca said. "I've played him on four or five occasions and I've been happy with the times I have played him.

"Hopefully, it'll be another happy memory."