Scotland have tried and failed, sometimes failing better, sometimes failing worse in their attempts to get the better of Ireland since 2017.
But time and time again, since a 27-22 win more than six years ago, even when there appears to have been little between the teams on paper, they have consistently displayed a complete lack of killer instinct on the field of play.
The eight-match run stretches over six Six Nations fixtures, a World Cup pool clash and an Autumn Nations tie.
Within those games the closest they've been is a 27-24 loss in Murrayfield two years ago.
Over the last few years Scotland have been able to beat England and France, home and away, but Ireland have proved a match too far.
The talk has been talked but the walk was skipped.
Even when they appeared to have Ireland on the ropes, they have always lacked the power punch to drop them to the canvas.
Whether it was dropping the ball over the line or butchering overlaps, or even when playing against three props and a team with a wing forward throwing into the lineout, the Scots have always managed to bungle their opportunities when winning seemed easier.
But all losing streaks come to an end.
Ireland eventually beat New Zealand in 2016, and England's record-equalling 18-match winning run in 2017 came to an end in Dublin.
Older readers may remember where they were and how they felt in 1954 when Scotland bucked a nine-match losing streak to Ireland that stretched back to 1939.
One can just imagine the Murrayfield merriment that day, with four inches of snow for company, would be repeated if Scotland do the business in Paris on Saturday night.
The Irish Independent's Monday review of that game laid the blame at the door of 'Bad Psychology’.
From where the Irish team is now, it seems they can only lose this game if they switch off, get sucked into playing Scotland’s game.
They have shown no sign of doing this under Andy Farrell over the last 16 months.
It's been a case of close but no cigar for the Scots in recent times. Here's how they have fared since that day in February 2017.
2018 Six Nations: Ireland 28-8 Scotland
The year after Scotland had stunned Ireland at Murrayfield, claiming a first win in four years, Joe Schmidt's men got down to business early.
There were some nervy moments but Jacob Stockdale struck for two first-half tries with Conor Murray and Sean Cronin five-pointers to seal the win after the break. Blair Kinghorn scored a try that was never anything more than a consolation as Ireland, a week before wrapping up the Grand Slam in Twickenham, ran out 20-point victors.
2019 Six Nations: Scotland 13-22 Ireland
The hosts were in the lead early on before gifting Murray a try when Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland got mixed up in the backfield. Stockdale extended Ireland’s advantage with a pre-planned move from midfield, however Scotland would have been in the lead at the break but for a poor pass from Huw Jones that scuppered a certain try in the corner.
Joey Carbery, on a 23rd-minute replacement for Sexton, set up Keith Earls for a try and added a penalty to see Ireland over the line on a 22-13 scoreline.
2019 World Cup: Ireland 27-3 Scotland
Before we knew what Japan were capable of, this game was billed as a pool decider, the talk in the build-up suggesting that Scotland were going to put it up to Ireland. In the end, they didn’t fire a shot.
Leading 19-3 at the break after tries from James Ryan, Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong, the game was over as a contest when Andrew Conway crossed in the 56th minute. Both sides would go on to lose to the hosts.
2020 Six Nations: Ireland 19-12 Scotland
Ireland, through 13 points from Johnny Sexton, led by seven in the 50th minute when Stuart Hogg dropped the ball over the line.
Gregor Townsend’s side were well in the game with 10 minutes to play but Sam Johnson conceded a daft penalty in front of the posts allowing Sexton to push the lead out and Ireland saw it through. Scotland left this one behind, big time.
2020 Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland 31-16 Scotland
With Covid-19 causing the cancellation of the planned northern hemisphere tours, Scotland visited Dublin in December 2020.
The visitors led for much of the opening half but Ireland, after a poor start, hit Scotland with a three-try salvo between the 37th and 50th minutes, Keith Earls (2) and Cian Healy striking.
Duhan van der Merwe put some gloss on the scoreline but once again Scotland flattered to deceive.
2021 Six Nations: Scotland 24-27 Ireland
Ireland looked in control after an hour at Murrayfield, a game played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions. Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Beirne had scored tries and Johnny Sexton kicked 14 points and everything was going according to plan.
They led by 14 points but tries from Huw Jones and Hamish Watson, both converted by Hogg, saw the game tied and Ireland needed a late Sexton penalty to get out of Edinburgh with a 27-24 win.
2022 Six Nations: Ireland 26-5 Scotland
Again, Scotland threatened early but failed to trouble the scoreboard and Dan Sheehan and Cian Healy powered over for tries in the 16th and 27th minutes. Scotland stayed in touch thanks to a Pierre Schoeman try before the break. Blair Kinghorn missed a fairly routine conversion.
At 14-5, Sturt Hogg blew a two on one and ten minutes later, Ireland got a crucial try with Josh van der Flier bashing his way over.
Conor Murray crossed late on as Ireland claimed a first Triple Crown since 2018.
2023 Six Nations: Scotland 7-22 Ireland
Scotland had beaten England in Twickenham and were still in the race for the championship ahead of this round-four fixture. Ireland lost Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan and Iain Henderson to injury with 25 minutes on the clock and were in further trouble when Rónan Kelleher lost power in his arm eight minutes into the second half.
That meant Cian Healy hooking in the scrums and Josh van der Flier throwing into lineouts. Scotland briefly led through Huw Jones’ converted try but despite Ireland’s injury list, couldn’t breach the opposition defence again and Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Jack Conan all scored tries to claim a 22-7 win on the way to another Grand Slam.
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