Gregor Townsend says he does not view Scotland's Six Nations showdown with Ireland on Sunday as a "needle game", and insists ending a 10-match losing run to the Irish provides no extra motivation.

I don’t think there’s any extra rivalry, but it’s definitely more on the Irish side,” said Gregor Townsend ahead of Scotland’s Six Nations clash with Ireland. “I think teams want to build up something to provide extra motivation so maybe it’s more on the Irish side or the Irish media side that there’s this rivalry or needle to give them extra motivation on why they want to win again.

Gregor Townsend played down suggestions that Scotland-Ireland has become a grudge match as he prepared for Sunday's Six Nations clash at Murrayfield. Sunday's match will be a first Six Nations start for New Zealand-born Jordan after the 26-year-old came off the bench against Italy following his Test debut during the November internationals.