LEINSTER AND IRELAND PLAYER Josh van der Flier believes that Scotland will not 'need much motivation' when the sides clash in the Six Nations this weekend.
Ireland, who are chasing a Grand slam travel to Murrayfield in Edinburgh to take on an extremely confident Scotland side in round 4 of the tournament.
A comprehensive win over England was followed up with an even better win against Wales. Scotland could not get the better of France away from home but came away from the defeat with positives from the defeat.
A victory for Scotland will mean Gregor Townsend's side could win their first Triple Crown since 1990. They also can win the title if results do go their way.
Van Der Flier spoke to the media today and claimed that Ireland would be ready for the game on Sunday.
"They won’t need much motivation I guess with the prospect of a Triple Crown for them if they win, "said the current World Player of the Year.
Dublin , Ireland - 5 February 2022; Andrew Porter, left, and Josh van der Flier of Ireland n. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)"We’ll certainly be ready for a motivated and pumped-up team. Thinking of their back row, from my perspective, they are top quality, and they will definitely have all the motivation they need coming into the weekend.
"The way they have attacked, blended all the areas of their game.
"There were times [in previous years] when their lineout has been brilliant and other areas could have been better but looking at them now it's pretty all-round, complete performances in terms of how the forwards and backs are playing and how they are linking up.
"They look like a really dangerous team. It’s going to be a massive challenge and we are all aware of that."
The back rower has also said that the Ireland squad aren't talking about another Grand Slam and that full focus will be on toppling Scotland in their home ground this weekend.
"It’s probably something we would have mentioned at the start of the tournament,” Van der Flier added.
"I wouldn’t say it’s a banned word, no, but I think with the threat that we have this weekend with the Scotland side that are playing so well, it would probably be naive of us to start talking about a Grand Slam or anything like that.
"I think it is going to be a massive challenge against a really, really good side.
"Obviously, the goal for every team going in is you want to win all your games, but it will be such a big challenge this week I don’t think you can look far past that.”
Ireland's game against Scotland will start at 3pm this Sunday and can be seen live on RTE Two.
