Ireland vs. Scotland: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info for Rugby Warm-Up Match

The race to be ready for this year's World Cup is going according to plan for Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, who watches his side play host to Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

After claiming a hugely successful 35-21 win over Wales a week ago, the Irish welcome Vern Cotter's men to Dublin looking to replicate the success of their 40-10 triumph at Murrayfield in March.

That Edinburgh victory put the finishing touches on a historic Six Nations win, and although there isn't nearly as much at stake on Saturday, another experimental lineup will consider the tie every bit as important.

Read on for all the necessary viewing details ahead of Saturday's showdown, complete with a round-up of the latest headlines.

Date: Saturday, August 15

Time: 5 p.m. BST/12 p.m. ET

Live Stream: Sky Go app (UK), SuperSport stream (SA)

TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport 6 (SA)

Experimentation Gone Wild

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

With just over a month until the 2015 Rugby World Cup finally gets underway, coaches are entering the final stretch in their preparations, the stage at which experimentation gives way to more practical logic.

For now, though, the tinkering remains rife. One selection that might perk up Irish ears is to hear winger Simon Zebo positioned at full-back, a role in which he's previously insisted he's proficient, per Patrick McCarry of JOE.ie:

"

I think the [coaches] know I can do a job at full back. I don’t need to plead my case.

I’ve played internationally at full back, I’ve played full back for Munster and I really enjoy playing there.

I get more of the ball, it’s a position I love playing – I played there in the Champions Cup against Sale and got man of the match, I love playing there, when I get my hands on the ball that’s when I’m at my best.

I think the coaching staff know the attributes and pros and cons of each player so it’s just going to be about playing the best you can in the warm-up games and doing as best you can.

"

Cotter himself has decided to throw the dice at the back, too, with Ruaridh Jackson lining up in the No. 15 jersey while Greig Tonks starts at fly-half and converted flanker Richie Vernon gets another nod at outside centre.

Jackson took to his official Twitter account following Thursday's team announcement, with the London Wasps playmaker looking to establish his versatility ahead of the coming squad cuts:

Meanwhile, flanker Sean O'Brien will take up the No. 8 role as Jamie Heaslip watches from the sidelines, and Ireland veteran Gordon D'Arcy might consider this the last-chance saloon to prove himself at inside centre.

Schmidt has made 14 changes altogether from the side that claimed a convincing win over Wales last Saturday, but such is the depth the European titans are currently enjoying.

Green Flag Flying High

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

And speaking of depth, Ireland's rise through the international ranks is part of the reason Schmidt can afford to make such widespread change this weekend.

It was announced last week that the Welsh victory moved Ireland up to second in the world rankings behind New Zealand, but SuperSport's Brenden Nel doesn't believe that tells us much about the team's strength:

The rankings may not be a clear indicator of just who sits above who in the global pecking order, but it's impossible to deny the Irish of the strides they've made under Schmidt's tutelage.

Heaslip won't be involved on Saturday, but the Leinster powerhouse wrote for the Players' Tribune, touching on exactly what it is that gives Ireland their edge as a team:

One would have to agree that's something they hold in common with the All Blacks, an irrepressible pride that even the fringe players exude when given their chance to impress.

Some of Scotland's bastions may be able to summon up the same brand of patriotism, but after suffering a 30-point defeat five months ago, Cotter's men will be hard-pressed to fare any better in Dublin this weekend.