Scotland v Ireland - Scottish Rugby

2023 Guinness Six Nations

12 Mar 2023 - 3:00 pm

BT Murrayfield

Full-Time

7 - 22

view scoring

Tries

Jones17′

28′Hansen

57′Lowe

62′Conan

Conversions

Russell18′

58′Sexton

63′Sexton

Penalties

13′Sexton

Drop Goals

80'

Full-time: Scotland 7-22 Ireland

A tough afternoon for Scotland, who couldn’t claw themselves back into it when Ireland went a couple of scores up. The visitors, who retain the Centenary Quaich, displayed the sort of composure you might associate with the best team in the world.

Their three tries came through Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Jack Conan, with Johnny Sexton adding seven from the tee. For Scotland, Huw Jones’ well-taken first-half try, converted by Finn Russell, wasn’t to be added to in the second half.

Scotland of course have one more push to make, at home next Saturday 18 March, with Italy the visitors to BT Murrayfield, kick-off 12:30pm.

72'

Ringrose up and about

After ten-minute intervention, Garry Ringrose is well enough to get stretchered off. He offers a thumbs up to the appreciative BT Murrayfield crowd.

76'

Sione sums it up

He’s had such an excellent championship, but Sione Tuipulotu shows that even professional rugby players can have off days, his attempted kick through going straight out. Ireland almost score from the resulting line-out, James Ryan knocking on at the last when clean though – another super Kyle Steyn tackle aside, that was Ireland’s fourth try.

72'

Ringrose down with a head knock

Play is stopped when Garry Ringrose takes a hit to his head in trying to tackle Blair Kinghorn, and stays down. Both medical teams are taking time to check him out but positively, he is moving.

65'

Kinghorn on for Hogg

Scotland’s latest centurion takes his leave with 15 left on the clock. Scotland looking for fresh impetus, bring on Blair Kinghorn to try and stage the beginnings of a comeback.

67'

Watson on for Fagerson on back row

Hamish Watson comes on to take over from Matt Fagerson, with Jamie Ritchie reverting to blindside flanker for the rest of the afternoon. Scotland need something to give in the terrific Irish defence as we enter the late knockings at BT Murrayfield.

62'

Conan adds a third

The mark of the world’s number one team. They’ve been excellent without necessarily being flashy, and it’s the same again, Jack Conan patiently lurking out wide to squeeze home. Sexton’s touchline conversion is another cracker, with Ireland now 22-7 ahead.

54'

Prop refreshment for Scotland

Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson are replaced by Jamie Bhatti and Simon Berghan, as Jamison Gibson Park comes on at scrum-half for Ireland.

59'

Price and Brown on for Scotland

Ali Price takes over from Ben White at scrum-half, with Fraser Brown replacing George Turner at hooker for the final thirty.

57'

Lowe extends Ireland’s lead

From a line-out, Ireland make huge gains in midfield with a series of puncturing carries. Scotland can’t scramble quick enough and with penalty advantage in the back pocket, winger James Lowe grabs a lovely take a wriggles over. Sexton converts from the touchline, meaning Ireland are 15-7 to the good.

51'

Van der Flier throwing darts

It’s actually Josh van der Flier, World Player of the Year no less, who is throwing the ball in at line-out time for Ireland. Mad scenes. James Lowe skews his attempted clearance and Scotland have an attacking line-out from about 30m out. Forward pass by Russell to Jones puts the skids on things, so Ireland have a put-in.

46'

Chaotic passage but no scoreboard change

It’s all a bit scrappy from both sides, but no less entertaining at BT Murrayfield. Scotland have hold the attacking cards somewhat, but can’t roll away in time after some unbelievable defence from the best team in the world. Another oddity: Cian Healy, 121 times capped at loosehead, comes on to play hooker after both Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher are forced off.

41'

Massive 40 minutes ahead

A point in it, then. Scotland aiming for a first Triple Crown in 33 years, Ireland with designs of a Grand Slam. The second half has been good to the dark blue this championship, so more of the same would be very much welcomed!

42'

Sexton held up in attack

Ireland quietly going about their business, and somehow stay enough metres to find themselves well placed in Scotland’s half. Excellent defence from the hosts, though, as Johnny Sexton gets held up in possession and gives away a scrum for his sins.

39'

One final push before the break

Ireland are pinged by referee Pearce for an offside. It’s half-time on the clock, but the kick is just a metre or two too far to contemplate for Messrs. Russell and Hogg. Scotland kick to touch and Sione Tuipulotu makes one of his dents in the opposition defence, from which point the ball loops out to George Turner, who has taken up a wing berth momentarily. He’s put in touch and that’s the interval.

33'

Ireland looking dangerous again

The world’s number one ranked team show exactly why they’re so. James Lowe breaks through and has the freedom of Murrayfield, finding an onrushing Garry Ringrose who is only denied by a fantastic Kyle Steyn tackle. Ireland look nailed-on to add a second try but Scotland rally superbly, George Turner lives up to his name and turns it over to the delight of the home support. Still a point in it with a couple of minutes to go in the first half.

28'

Ireland re-take the lead through Hansen try

It’s well worked again from Ireland, who create enough room out wide on the right wing to allow Hugo Keenan to float a ball into the path of Mack Hansen. He’s so close to being in touch, but referee Luke Pearce consults TMO Stuart Terheege, and Hansen’s try is good. Sexton misses the conversion after taking an eternity. 8-7.

40'

Ireland by one at the break

A fascinating half of Tests match rugby. Low-scoring but not without huge intrigue. Ireland are a point to the good, hitting back with a Mack Hansen try after the prolific Huw Jones scored his fourth of this year’s Guinness Six Nations.

31'

Scotland almost hit back immediately

Finn Russell plants a beauty of a grubber, which couldn’t really have ended better for Scotland, going out right before the try line. They pressure Conor Murray into a poor clearance and then from the line-out, Sione Tuipulotu sets Finn Russell free. Russell finds Duhan van der Merwe who looks certain to barge his way through. He’s tackled though and then doesn’t release in time, so Ireland escape and with a bonus in tow.

22'

Telling scrum moment?

Ireland have the put-in for a scrum on their own 22, having forced Stuart Hogg into a knock-on. But an early push by Andrew Porter gives away the game’s first scrum penalty. Moments after, Scotland fumble again and Garry Ringrose leads a superb counter attack, but Kyle Steyn covers well. End to end, this one!

26'

Jamie doing Jamie things

Scotland’s captain has the number seven on his back this afternoon, but he’s just doing the usual: bullying at breakdowns and threatening turnovers at every juncture. This time, though, Ritchie’s brilliance haunts him as a turnover actually gets held up in a matter of moments. Again, not something you see every game!

18'

TRY SCOTLAND!!

What a ridiculous championship Huw Jones is having. It just had to be him. Ireland clear but only as far as Duhan van der Merwe, who launches a one-man foray into opposition territory, taking several opponents along for the ride. From one of the resulting rucks, Sione Tuipulotu pops the ball to his centre mate, who glides over for his fourth of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations! Finn Russell converts; Scotland lead 7-3.

15'

Scotland probe for field position

Now it’s Scotland’s turn to have a go on the front foot. The ball weaves its across the pitch as the hosts look to show their attacking hand. Stuart Hogg gets to within a couple of metres but he’s bundled into touch. No sentiment for the centurion.

Century boy defends well

A mischievous grubber by Garry Ringrose has the Scotland defence in all sorts of bother, but Stuart Hogg thinks on his feet and, although ceding a line-out, scrambles well to catch the dangerous ball. Ireland trying to crank things up now, relatively camped in Scotland’s 22.

12'

First points to Ireland

Mack Hansen fancies that he’s in on the right-hand side but Duhan van der Merwe makes a clever covering tackle. It’s brought back for a Scotland offside though, and Johnny Sexton clips over the simplest of penalties. 3-0 to Ireland.

Early territorial gains from Ireland

The visitors are enjoying the lion’s share of early ball, going through phases without looking too menacing. Both sides just scoping one another out in the opening exchanges. Bizarrely, Scotland try a quick line-out with a new ball, which is against the laws. You don’t see that often! They at least get to take it again!

Cummings on as an early replacement

Richie Gray’s afternoon appears to have come to a conclusion before it’s had a fair chance to start, with what looks like an upper body issue. Scott Cummings, called up after the last round of matches, comes on in Gray’s stead.

Lovely start from Finn

Conor Murray’s box kick is claimed by Scotland’s talisman, who marks before a quick touch finder to get his work started for the afternoon. 50 metres gained in a blink.

Sexton gets us going at BT Murrayfield

Ireland will get us underway this afternoon, with Johnny Sexton launching the ball high into the Edinburgh sky. Scotland attacking the North stand in the first half, with no changes to the line-ups announced. COME ON SCOTLAND!