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Can Scotland end their 10-match losing streak against the reigning champions?
Watch Scotland v Ireland as the two sides bring the second weekend of 2025 Six Nations action to a close. We’ve assembled everything you need to know about TV broadcasts and live streams (including free viewing options) to make sure you don’t miss a second of the action.
Both sides won their opening matches last Saturday but Ireland – chasing an unprecedented third successive Six Nations – go into the game as favourites. In fact, Scotland have lost their last 10 matches against the visitors, so recent history is not on their side.
Scotland v Ireland kicks off at 3.00pm GMT on Sunday, and is available to watch for free in both the UK and Ireland. Read on to find out how to watch Scotland v Ireland online, on TV and from anywhere in the world.
Key information
– Scotland v Ireland date: Sunday 9 February 2025
– Scotland v Ireland kick-off time: 3.00pm local (GMT) / 4.00pm CET / 10.00am ET / 5.00pm SAST / 2.00am AEDT (Monday)
– Scotland v Ireland venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland
– Scotland v Ireland on TV: BBC One, RTÉ 2, France 2
– Scotland v Ireland streams: BBC iPlayer (free), RTÉ Player (free), FranceTV (free)
– Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free
How to watch Scotland v Ireland in the UK – Six Nations free live stream
Fans in the UK can watch Scotland v Ireland on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Six Nations TV coverage is being shared between the BBC and ITV, with all of Scotland’s home games being covered by the Beeb. You can catch Scotland v Ireland on both terrestrial channel BBC One and the BBC iPlayer streaming platform. Both options are free to use but you’ll need to complete a simple email registration to use the iPlayer. You also need a valid TV Licence to watch live television, whether you’re viewing via linear broadcast channels or online.
Coverage starts at 2.00pm GMT ahead of the 3.00pm GMT kick-off. Not in the UK right now? You can still access your BBC iPlayer account with a VPN – more on that below.
How to watch Scotland v Ireland from abroad
Going to be away from home when Scotland kick off against Ireland? That doesn’t mean you have to miss any of the action. Geo-restrictions can get in the way of watching your usual streaming services when you’re overseas but a handy piece of kit called a VPN can help you sidestep that particular inconvenience.
A VPN – aka a Virtual Private Network – can make your device appear to be in any country in the world. This makes it great for watching sport when you’re travelling abroad, making your smartphone, tablet or laptop believe it’s back at home. Better still, a VPN’s encrypted connections can enhance you’re internet security, and that’s a winning result.
Our office mates at TechRadar know what they’re talking about when it comes to VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best on the market. Handily it’s currently available at a knockdown price:
How to watch Scotland v Ireland in Ireland
The rights to Six Nations rugby in Ireland are shared between free broadcasters RTÉ and Virgin Media, with RTÉ having the honour of broadcasting Ireland’s second championship match.
Terrestrial viewers can watch Scotland v Ireland on RTÉ 2, and you can also watch a live stream through RTÉ Player. You can tune in through the app or your browser, and no sign-up is required. Coverage starts at 2.00pm ahead of the 3.00pm kick-off.
Not in Ireland right now? You can still get your home-flavoured RTÉ coverage from abroad by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
Scotland v Ireland: More global broadcasters
USA: Fans in the USA can watch Scotland v Ireland on Peacock. NBC’s streaming platform costs $7.99 a month.
Australia: Aussie rugby fans need to head to Stan Sport to watch Scotland v Ireland. Stan Sport costs $15 per month on top of your base Stan subscription plan.
New Zealand: In New Zealand, Scotland v Ireland is on Sky Sport. A streaming sub costs $49.99 per month or $499.99 per year.
South Africa: In South Africa? Head to SuperSport to watch Scotland v Ireland on TV and online.
Scotland v Ireland match preview
Both these sides had victories in their opening Six Nations fixtures, but Ireland go into the match as massive favourites. While the Scots have home advantage, Ireland have won their last 10 matches against the hosts, a run that stretches back to 2017. So however well Gregor Townsend’s men play on the day, they also need to believe they have what it takes to beat the reigning champions.
There’s no shortage of talent in the Scotland ranks, even with captain and star centre Sione Tuipulotu absent through injury. Wings Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are Scotland’s highest try scorers of all time, while full-back Blair Kinghorn regularly lines up alongside France stars Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos for Toulouse. Centre Huw Jones scored a hat-trick against Italy last weekend, and co-captain Finn Russell is one of the most exciting stand-offs in world rugby. In the pack, tighthead Zander Fagerson and flanker (and co-captain) Rory Darge are both widely tipped to travel to Australia this summer with the British & Irish Lions.
And yet questions remain about a side that’s capable of beating almost any team in the world on their day, yet just as susceptible to losing games they should win.
Last year’s fourth successive Calcutta Cup victory against England was followed up by a shock defeat to Italy. And even though Scotland beat the Azzurri 31-19 last Saturday, they almost allowed their opponents back into a game they should have won comfortably.
After their all-conquering Grand Slam in 2023, Ireland didn’t look quite so imperious in 2024, losing to the English on the way to a second successive Six Nations trophy. However, the team’s 27-22 opening victory over England last weekend suggested that rumours of the side’s decline have been greatly exaggerated. They may have gone into the break 10-5 down, but 22 unanswered second-half points ensured they won the match with something to spare, the two tries England scored late on little more than a consolation.
In the absence of Andy Farrell (away on a Lions sabbatical), interim head coach Simon Easterby has opted for continuity. The squad is packed with players who know what it’s like to win matches against France, the Springboks and the All Blacks, with strength in depth across the field. Their centre trio of Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose would be the envy of any team on the planet, Jamison Gibson-Park is one of the best scrum-halves in the world, and the forward options are such that the team can bring on a flotilla of replacements and barely notice the difference. There’s still a question mark at fly-half, where Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley are vying for the number 10 shirt, but how does anyone replace the legendary Johnny Sexton?
Early signs suggest that – continuing the tradition of recent years – Ireland will once again be battling France for the Six Nations title this March. But if Scotland are going to turn talent and promise into a first title in the Six Nations era, this is a game they really need to win.
Scotland v Ireland team news and line-ups
In Tuipulotu’s continued absence, Tom Jordan gets the nod at inside centre, replacing Stafford McDowall who drops to the bench. Townsend has also juggled his pack, with Rory Sutherland starting at loosehead, and Jack Dempsey coming into the side at number 8.
Easterby has made two changes to his XV. In the ongoing “more elite centres than starting places” conundrum, Robbie Henshaw is picked ahead of Garry Ringrose. Former captain Peter O’Mahony comes in at blindside flanker, replacing Ryan Baird.
SCOTLAND
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Darcy Graham
13. Huw Jones
12. Tom Jordan
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White
1. Rory Sutherland
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Jonny Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Matt Fagerson
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey
Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Pierre Schoeman
18. Will Hurd
19. Sam Skinner
20. Gregor Brown
21. Jamie Ritchie
22. Jamie Dobie
23. Stafford McDowall
IRELAND
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ryan Baird
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Garry Ringrose
Referees and TMO
The Six Nations referee for Scotland v Ireland is James Doleman of New Zealand. His assistants are fellow Kiwi Ben O’Keeffe and France’s Pierre Brousset. Richard Kelly of New Zealand is the TMO.
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