Grant Gilchrist says that tonight’s crucial World Cup Pool B clash against Ireland in Paris is no time for cool heads.
While it is vital that the Scotland team stay disciplined and think clearly, the veteran second-row believes that it is also important that they embrace the emotional side of the challenge.
Beating Ireland – currently the number one ranked team on the planet who are on a 16-match winning streak, which includes an epic win over reigning world champions South Africa a fortnight ago – will take a near super-human effort.
The fact that Scotland have not come out on top in this fixture in their last eight attempts stretching back to 2017, and have not won by the eight-point margin they need tonight in a competitive match since 2001, really puts the size of the task in perspective.
The flip side of that, however, is that the pressure is all on the opposition, with Scotland able to treat the match as a free hit with nobody outside their own camp really believing they have a chance of winning.
"There has to be an increase in emotion as this is as big a moment as you will get in your career,” said Gilchrist.
“It's all or nothing for us. The challenge is hugely exciting, it's the stuff of dreams for the players to go out into an arena like this with everything on the line, having had the journey that we've had to this point. I
"It's about bringing that emotion. It's about not being scared of it. We are going to embrace it. We are going to put absolutely everything we've got into this game, and we believe that is going to be enough to win.”
Whilst recognising the magnitude of the occasion, Gilchrist – who will gain his 68th Scotland cap tonight- stressed that Scotland are not novices when it comes to competing and succeeding against the best teams in the world in high-stakes matches.
"There are a few games, one of them was in this stadium when we beat France in 2021,” he pointed out, referring to the dramatic comeback win by 14-man Scotland following the 71stminute red-carding of Finn Russell for elbow to head contact, which deprived Les Bleus of a Grand Slam.
“The way we defended in that game, being a man down at the end and came back and went through multi phases, that's the levels of effort which we will require.
"Big games that we've had recently against England, away at Twickenham where we’ve previously had a bad record, there are similarities there as well.
“This Irish team has gone and done things that this Scotland team haven't done, and we know that beating Ireland on a big stage is something that we have not done but that is what excites us.
"That is why we need to go out and give our all for our country and for ourselves to get into the quarter-final final.”
"A fast start will be important,” Gilchrist added. “Against any of the best sides in world rugby, you don't want to be chasing the game and we have felt that when we have faced the top sides like France, South Africa and Ireland in the past.
"But we also believe that the next moment is also the most important one, so if we do concede a try in the first minute, the game is not lost.
“It's our response to things going wrong that will be more important as we are playing against the best team in the world so of course things are going to go against us at points.
"It's about getting more things for us than against us. The mental side will be just as important as the physical side.”
“Losing our last eight games against Ireland is the reality of what we have to face,” he said. “It doesn't matter what my perceptions are, the reality is we haven't been able to beat Ireland for a long time. That is the record which faces us.
“But history doesn't scare this team. We want to go out and do things that we have struggled to do. That is the kind of challenge which gives you the really special moments in your career and that's what this team is striving to do.”
