Scots confirm World Cup warm-up matches against Ireland and Italy

Ireland visit Murrayfield on Saturday, 6 August for the first warm-up match before Italy travel to the home of Scottish Rugby a fortnight later on Saturday, 20 August. Kick-off times have still to be confirmed as have ticket prices.

Scotland, unbeaten in their last four cap internationals, are currently occupying seventh place in the IRB world rankings - equalling their highest position since the rankings were established.

Head coach Andy Robinson said: "I am pleased that we are able to confirm these fixtures. Both will provide the exact sort of intensity that will be part and parcel of a World Cup tournament.

"Inevitably there will be much talk of the World Cup over the next year but the key thing for us is to remain focused on improvement and to respect and concentrate on our opponents in our next game - and for us that's against New Zealand in the autumn Tests at Murrayfield in November.

"I'm looking forward to that game and our autumn Tests against South Africa and Samoa.

"The players will be determined to inspire our supporters, old and new, in these Tests and the fans have a part to play too by roaring on Scotland."

There will now be ten international matches for Scotland before the 2011 World Cup begins.

Scotland's first game in the competition is against a yet to be determined play-off winner in Invercargill on Saturday, 10 September next year. The other countries in Scotland's World Cup pool are Argentina - who Scotland defeated in both Tests on South American soil in June - England and Georgia.

Prior to the last World Cup in 2007, Scotland faced Ireland at Murrayfield and posted a 31-21 victory, crowned by a hat-trick of tries by centre Andrew Henderson. Four years before that, Italy were overwhelmed 47-15 in an impressive Scotland performance in the lead-up to the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Meanwhile, Scotland's autumn international opponents New Zealand are still not playing well enough to win the World Cup despite clinching the Tri-Nations with a match to spare and compiling a run of 14 consecutive victories, says skipper Richie McCaw.

New Zealand have played some scintillating rugby this season but that has only served to fuel accusations that they have again peaked too soon before the sport's showpiece event, which they host next year.

"We've got to be confident, people talk about peaking and all that sort of stuff but you only peak when you don't think you can get any better," said the twice International Player of the Year.

"Sure we've been happy with what we've done this year but we'd be kidding ourselves if we thought we were playing good enough for 12 month's time.

"We've got to still look at ways of improving and I think there's still a lot of potential to do that."

The All Blacks play Australia in their final Tri-Nations test in Sydney on 11 September before a fourth match this year against their cross-Tasman Sea rivals in Hong Kong on 30 October.

As holders and with two wins against Australia already under their belts, New Zealand are guaranteed to retain the Bledisloe Cup but McCaw does not think that will alter the team's approach to their second encounter with the Wallabies in Hong Kong.

"It's a test match against Australia, and the last thing you want to do is lose one," he added.

"I'd be really disappointed if that changed the intensity. When the guys pull on the black jerseys, they want to go out and play well. I don't think that will change at all."

The Hong Kong match comes before their November tests against England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.