Six Nations: Ireland star Ross admits to Test hangover

Mike ROSS has warned his Irish team will have to be fast out of the blocks to deal with Scotland in Dublin on Saturday – while giving an intriguing insight into the likely demands of playing two rugby Tests in six days.

With Scotland on a weekend off the Irish were in Paris last Sunday for a re-arranged fixture with France.

Ross said of that draw with Les Tricolours: “The day after I experienced what I call a physical hangover, one of those days when you don’t really want to shift off the couch. It was intensely physical, there wasn’t much quarter given or asked for. We have an excellent medical staff, we have excellent conditioners so I’m sure they are not going to flog us this week and we’ll be in as good a shape as we can be coming up to Saturday.”

Claiming that Scotland will seek to exploit any Irish weariness the Leinster prop said: “Scotland play a high-tempo game, they will try to go through the phases and stretch you as much as possible. We know we have to do the same to them.”

• BOROUGHMUIR regulars Harry Leonard, Michael Crawley, Robin Hislop and Jamie Swanston are all in Scotland’s under-20 team to face Ireland under-20s in Athlone on Friday evening while Currie provide Dougie Fyfe, Richard Snedden, John Cox and Ross Weston to the Scottish clubs’ team that tackle their Irish counterparts in Dublin.