Ireland skipper Paul O'Connell has said that Scotland are "unlucky" to be winless so far in this year's Six Nations ahead of the final weekend of the tournament.
Under new coach Vern Cotter, Scotland have a much better points differential (-25) than Italy (-79), but they have been narrowly beaten in all four games, one of which was against the Italians who lie above them in the standings.
When asked if he was surprised to see Scotland languishing in last, O'Connell told reporters: "Yeah I am very surprised. I suppose that I've played against teams coached by Vern Cotter for a few years and they're excellent sides.
"I don't think that they've been well-beaten in any of their games. I think that they've probably been very unlucky not to get some results.
"You know, no team has pulled away from them. Every game has been really tight. Even going back to the Autumn, going back to the New Zealand game."
O'Connell singled out the Glasgow Warriors players in the Scotland outfit, of which there are eight starters tomorrow, as key to the home side.
He added: "We have a lot of respect for them. A big spine of the team is the Glasgow team which has been so consistent over the last number of years. They're incredibly difficult to beat, especially over here."
O'Connell will become Ireland's oldest ever captain tomorrow by leading his side out at 35 years and 152 days old.
The men in green are going for back-to-back Six Nations crowns for the first time and will win the title if they better England's result against France by eight points and Wales don't better their result by 22 points or more against Italy.
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