Clearly, in the historical context, Ireland have not been able to get good results against Scotland in Murrayfield (Ireland have not won in Edinburgh since 1985). That must be frustrating - for the public as well as the players. There is no apparent reason for it but I think it's changing now.

Professionalism has been pretty good for Irish rugby in general. The European Cup and Celtic League have been platforms to compete at a higher level and at the moment I really believe that Ireland have a better team that Scotland. Warren Gatland has better players than they have. I think we should be good enough to take the match today.

I played against Scotland six or seven times and I don't think I ever came near to winning any of them. I think we drew one of the games.

It was always said that we were on a par with the Scots but I don't think that we really ever were. Sure, there were similarities between us and them in that we are both small rugby playing nations and we both draw from a limited pool of players but I always thought that Scotland had better coaches and were bettter organised. I believe that is now changing.

We now have a system where younger players are coming through and are making an impression and over the last year or so I think that has really helped Ireland to improve.

In that respect, it is a goood time to be playing Scotland and although the record is bad, I think we have the edge on them.

The Celtic League and European Cup have raised the level of our players and we've really been able to benefit from the professional game. The players are all fitter and better organised.

Look at someone like Brian O'Driscoll. He's played against France twice in his career and has won both times. I played against France, I think, six or seven times and on each occasion never had a hope in hell of winning any of them.

It is difficult to analyse the players' state of mind but the guys who are coming through into the international team now have a different mentality to what we had. They come into games confident. They come in expecting to win, believing they are as good or better than the opposition, which is completely different to when I was playing.

Ireland have a number of exciting players. Obviously O'Driscoll. But what I've seen of Geordan Murphy, he's looking very good. I know Leicester have been talking about him as the "Georgie Best" of rugby for his ball skills.

Playing with a good team like Leicester should also give him confidence. The thing about Leicester and the players they have all around is that it is no mean feat to get into the side. The thing Murphy will have to get used to is the different level. I found that it takes you three or four games to get used to it.

I know he's already played for Ireland but you need those games under your belt to really establish yourself. It's a good opportunity for him and I think he deserves the chance.

Denis Hickie is another. I felt sorry for Denis when he was not selected for the Lions tour to Australia. He was unlucky not to go out there as a replacement.

But this could be his season. It happened to me when I didn't get picked for the Lions: when I trained harder the following season it turned out to be the best of my career. I wouldn't be surprised if Denis had a really good season this year with the Irish team and with Leinster in Europe.

Guy Easterby, who is selected at scrum half instead of Peter Stringer, played with me in The Exiles a long time ago. He must be in his late 20s now. I couldn't see anything to justify Stringer being dropped. Maybe he needs to vary his game a bit more. He's got a very good service and kicks the ball well but perhaps he hasn't always made his opposing scrum half think about whether he is going to make a break. But he's young. He's a good player and I think he will certainly get his chance with Ireland again.

Gatland has been lucky with the quality of players who have been coming through at the right time. But if he loses the next few matches his head could be on the block. In that respect rugby has become a little like football. But as I've said, we've got better players than them and they are professional now. That's it in a nut shell.

(In an interview with Johnny Watterson)