article_snippet: Vern Cotter's team strode purposefully into this year's championships on the back of three encouraging displays against Argentina, New Zealand and Tonga in November.
article_snippet: Some pundits even tipped the the Dark Blues as dark horses for the title.
article_snippet: But the same old self-inflicted gaffes that have cost the the Dark Blues dear, with Ireland now preparing to complete a miserable run by handing the Celtic neighbours the the Dark Blues fifth straight defeat in Edinburgh Saturday.
article_snippet: Wales then took control of their second match at Murrayfield after stand-off Finn Russell was sin-binned when his 'reckless' tackle left jumping Dragons fly-half Dan Biggar in a heap.
article_snippet: There was more misery in store as Italy's rolling maul steamrollered the Azzurri to a last-gasp win in the capital, while Scotland sparkled briefly at Twickenham on Saturday before the Auld Enemy fired back into a three-way shoot-out for the title by adding 15 unanswered points in the second half. '
article_snippet: Ireland will now go in search of the win which will see Scotland pip England and Wales to the Six Nations title this weekend.