It’s our first consecutive wins in the Women’s Six Nations since 2006!
The atmosphere inside the DAM Health Stadium has been outstanding for all three of our home games, but it was special today.
A FINAL TRY!
The determination to get over the line once more there was unbelievable.
The ball is moved out to the left and Chloe Rollie wrestles over to finish the scoring.
The crowd showed their full appreciation for all five of those substitutions. The DAM is shaking!
That cheer continues as our new RECORD attendance of 4862 is announced!
A huge thank you to everyone who is here just now, and all of you at home too!
Scotland continue to attack with the clock in the red. We’re metres short…
Scotland come forward phase by phase, but an injury to Evie Gallagher brings a stop to play.
When we restart, Scotland have a scrum around 15 metres out just right of the posts.
You do not keep Rachel Malcolm out twice!
The captain is over from short range on the right hand side, and that’s a cracking conversion from Nelson!
Five subs at once!
Off come Christine Belisle, Lana Skeldon, Leah Bartlett, Francesca McGhie and Meryl Smith.
They are replaced by Jodie Rettie, Anne Young, Elliann Clarke, Beth Blacklock and Liz Musgrove.
The scrum is about to take place as Gallagher recovers, but first Eva Donaldson and Eilidh Sinclair replace Louise McMillan and Rachel McLachlan.
Rachel Malcolm thinks she scores under the posts, but the TMO rules it out!
We go back for a penalty to Scotland, and it’s kicked to the right corner.
Scotland’s lineout doesn’t work out but Ireland knock it on, and we have the scrum put in.
And it leads to a penalty! We kick to Ireland’s 22.
THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
Francesca McGhie gets the ball on the left, and has the narrowest of channels to work in.
But her speed gets her outside her opposite winger, and a lovely step gets her inside the full back and under the posts!
The crowd LOVED that one!
An instant response!
Ireland exit to their 10m line, and from the lineout Smith races to the right corner.
She’s brought down five short, but two phases later Leah Bartlett goes over! Her third try in two weeks!
Nelson’s kick sails through.
Scotland are starting to get a bit more possession and control here, and it’s much needed.
A penalty on halfway for us, and we kick it to 25 metres out on the right side.
Scotland’s defensive organisation has been nothing short of outstanding so far.
Ireland work side to side but find no gaps, and Scotland get it back.
There’s an illegal jackal attempt from Ireland at the breakdown, and Scotland will kick to touch and have the lineout on halfway.
Another penalty, and the visitors are five metres out.
We defend the lineout well, but there’s a further penalty and we’re back defending in the corner.
Jade Konkel-Roberts finds a gap in midfield and charges forward from her own 22, but somehow the ball comes loose and goes forward.
Ireland scrum down around 35 metres out.
Scotland’s defence continues to impress, but the penalty count continues to frustrate.
Another offside and Ireland kick to around 15 metres out.
Ireland kick clear, and a knock on gives them the scrum in their own half.
Scotland disrupt from the base of the scrum, but Ireland are awarded a penalty and kick to just outside our 22.
Mairi McDonald comes off at scrum half for Caity Mattinson.
The pressure eventually tells, and Nichola Fryday reaches the line 15 metres in from the right touchline.
A successful conversion brings the scores level.
Ireland’s attempts to rebuild are futile, as Scotland are up so fast in defence.
A loose pass goes into touch, and Scotland have the lineout just inside Ireland’s half.
A penalty for Scotland is kicked to the left corner.
The maul is brought down just short, and Lana breaks free to score!
A third try for her in two games, and a fourth of the championship!
Ireland win the lineout, but at the breakdown Rachel McLachlan gets the jackal penalty!
The kick doesn’t find touch though, and Ireland rebuild from inside their half.
Meryl’s try gives us an important lead with 40 to go.
That was a largely frustrating first half, but the last-gasp try gives us the lead!
Meryl Smith gets us back underway.
COME ON SCOTLAND!!
Scotland attack up the right, and there’s a penalty for a high tackle!
We kick to the right corner…
Ireland attack from left to right, but Lana Skeldon latches on to the ball in a ruck and we have the penalty!
We’re up to Ireland’s 10m for a lineout.
Scotland work into midfield, and then back to the left and Orr nearly gets through.
There’s then a gap for Rachel Malcolm, who gives it back to McDonald and Scotland are metres out.
But the support doesn’t arrive soon enough and Ireland win the penalty, giving them the opportunity to clear to just outside their 22.
Mairi McDonald’s box kick gets us out of our half, but a penalty in midfield for offside gets Ireland back up the field.
They kick to our 10m line.
On the brink of half time, we grab the first try!
The maul brings us inches short, and Meryl Smith bullies her way over from the next phase.
We lead at the break!
Ireland win the lineout and maul to our line, but Louise McMillan wraps herself around the ball and refuses to budge.
Scotland will put into the scrum on their own five metre line.
An Irish knock-on at the lineout and we’ll have the ball back!
Our record crowd cheers for the home team as we set for a scrum 25 metres out.
Scotland break up the left through Meryl Smith, but a good counter ruck gets Ireland the ball back and we are pinged for offside.
Ireland kick to touch just inside their half.
Ireland come up the right side, and Meryl Smith rips it free in our 22.
But the tackle was deemed to be completed when she did it, so Ireland will have a penalty less than 20 metres out, which they kick to the corner.
Scotland break up the left through McGhie, then kick wide to Grant on the right.
But they are penalised once more, and Ireland’s kick almost gets them to halfway.
Ireland have retained possession well when they’ve had, but Scotland have put real power into their tackles.
Emma Orr rips the ball free, but an Irish player gathers. The visitors roam into Scotland’s half, but a knock on will give Scotland the ball around 30 metres out.
Meryl Smith rips the ball free, and from just right of centre Nelson kicks out to left for Francesca McGhie.
The ball rolls into Ireland’s 22, and just reaches the touchline before the young left winger can grab it.
Ireland will have the lineout.
Scotland go out to the left, then back to the right, then left once more.
They are getting in behind, but are then penalised at the breakdown once more.
Ireland exit to their 10m line.
Scotland’s tackles continue to be strong, and we’re competing well in the rucks too.
It’s forcing mistakes from Ireland, and a knock on gives us the ball back via a scrum on our own 10m line.
Scotland kick clear, and two phases later Helen Nelson wins us a jackal penalty!
We kick into Ireland’s half.
Scotland lose the ball a phase after the lineout, and then are penalised for not rolling away.
O’Brien slices her touch-finder a bit, and Ireland are only just outside their 22.
A chance for Scotland here, as Ireland’s lineout isn’t straight.
Our platform is a scrum around 25 metres out on the right.
Ireland are still keeping the ball astutely. Scotland win it back, but a pass goes into touch.
Scotland have stolen the lineout, mind you! We attack from our 22.
Dannah O’Brien sends the ball up into a cloudy Edinburgh sky.
COME ON SCOTLAND!
The kick is good. Ireland lead by three.
Ireland have the early possession. In reply, Scotland’s defence is resolute.
Chloe Rollie gathers a chip through, but Christine Belisle then knocks on. Ireland have the scum around 35 metres out in front of the posts.
Ireland retain the ball from the scrum but move forward slowly. Scotland defend well phase after phase, but then concede a penalty in front of the posts 25 metres out.
O’Brien will have a shot.
Here comes some Flower of Scotland action!
Warmups are over. The final game of our TikTok Six Nations campaign is fast approaching.
All five of last week’s tries in the win against Italy came from the forwards, with three mauls tries.
What will the forwards bring this week?
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – APRIL 29: Scotland warm up during a TikTok Women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at the DAM Health Stadium, on April 29, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)
Take a look behind the scenes of training this week with Rachel McLachlan and Mairi McDonald.
In the final episode of the tournament, Louise, Elliann, and Anne takeover Access Scotland Camp to talk all things forwards and answer questions from fans.
Read exclusive content from camp, as well as the team news and stats for this final round of fixtures in our digital match guide HERE
Only one change to the Scotland team with Emma Orr returning, replacing Lisa Thomson who returns to GB7s.
Jodie Rettie chats through stand-out moments in her rugby journey in the most recent episode of Moments That Made Me.
More episodes are available in the Fan Zone.
Scotland take on Ireland tonight at 7.30pm in the capital in front of a record-breaking crowd!
Follow live updates here, and watch the game live on BBC Scotland/iPlayer.
Scotland host Ireland in the final 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations match at DAM Health Stadium in Edinburgh tonight at 7.30pm.
There’s still time to get your tickets and be part of a record crowd, secure your tickets now HERE
If you can’t make it along, then watch live on BBC Scotland/iPlayer and follow live updates right here on the Match Centre from 5.30pm.
Tickets are still available for Scotland’s final 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations match against Ireland at DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh. Adults £15, Students £10, U18 £5, and U12s go free with a paying adult ticket until midnight Friday 28 April.
It was a night of record-breaking moments for Scotland as they concluded their 2023 TikTok Six Nations campaign with a 36-10 win over Ireland in front of 4,862 strong crowd at DAM Health Stadium on Saturday night, wrapping up the competition with their first back-to-back wins since 2006.
Ireland claimed the first points of the night in the opening five minutes when Referee Sara Cox deemed that Scotland were unable to support their body weight in the ruck, and so Ireland’s fly-half Dannah O’Brien lined up to take the three, which sailed through the posts.
Both Scotland and Ireland had flitting moments in attack as they challenged each other’s defensive efforts, but neither quite able to capitalise on the opportunities presented.
At the 15-minute mark, strong work at the breakdown from Coreen Grant and Emma Orr inside Ireland’s half saw Scotland claim a penalty, allowing half-half Helen Nelson to kick to touch for a Scotland line out. Playing to their strengths, Scotland mauled to take them closer to the try line but were unfortunate to have the ball ripped in the charge forward.
Scotland had a few more glimpses of strong attacking phases with Fran McGhee, Meryl Smith and Louise McMillan in particular making their presence on the pitch known, with Scotland entering Ireland’s half on handful occasions, but the green machine speed at the breakdown saw the women in blue and their chances for five put to a stop.
With less than 10 minutes on the clock of the first half, Ireland’s attacking play began to take shape as they worked short side, entering Scotland’s 22. Smith’s attempt to prise the ball from the Irish clutches was deemed unlawful with the player already on her knee from the tackle, giving Ireland a penalty in a strong field position. O’Brien kicked for the corner for a try scoring opportunity from a lineout. Winning their line out, Ireland began to maul but solid defensive work from the forward pack and hand under the ball from McMillan saw Ireland denied the try as they rumbled over the line.
Another Irish lineout in the 36th minute set in motion the events which would soon lead to a try scoring opportunity for Scotland. Ireland were unable to take the lineout cleanly, and so Scotland were awarded a scrum.
Number 8, Evie Gallagher, picked from the back and shipped the ball through the back line, reaching Chloe Rollie who dodged her way past four defenders. As Scotland began stringing the phases together, Mairi McDonald carried the ball on her own, resulting in Ireland being penalised at the breakdown, deep in their 22.
Helen Nelson took the chance for a Scotland lineout with a kick to touch some five meters from the try as hosts looked to conclude the first half in the lead. A classic Scotland line out and driving maul went to plan, with the forwards releasing the ball to McDonald, who then found Smith, and the inside centre crashed over the whitewash running a strong short line to claim her first try for Scotland. Nelson’s conversion was wide, but Scotland were up at half time.
HALF TIME: SCOTLAND 5-3 IRELAND
It was a bright start to the second half for Scotland as they claimed their second try of the match through hooker, Lana Skeldon at 47 minutes.
With the visitors taken into touch in their own half, Scotland had the lineout, and as you might expect, began a driving maul which took them further into the opposition’s territory with Skeldon making a break down the short side with Jade Konkel-Roberts in support.
Scotland were awarded advantage as Ireland’s Dorothy Wall was penalised. Nelson made a fantastic kick to touch, for another lineout close to the try line. McMillan gathered cleanly in the air and the forward pack powered on through, allowing Skeldon to add to her string of tries in the TikTok Six Nations campaign.
Ireland looked to retaliate quickly, and some three minutes later had advantage deep in Scotland’s 22, O’Brien kicked to touch for the lineout. A strong driving maul was difficult for Scotland to defend, and soon after Ireland’s captain Nicola Fryday was over the whitewash for the try. O’Brien’s conversion flew through the posts and Scotland and Ireland were drawn.
Of course, Scotland had something to say about it, eager to pull ahead. And pull ahead they did!
A Scotland lineout in Ireland’s half was once again retained by the women in blue, and was popped out the back to Skeldon, who found Smith, ready to charge. Her fantastic athleticism saw Scotland taken deeper into Ireland’s 22, before captain Rachel Malcolm took her chance to propel Scotland closer to the try line. Next to go was Evie Gallagher, who was just short of the whitewash, but it would be prop Leah Bartlett who would finish the job, rumbling over the crossed over. Nelson’s conversion was nailed, and Scotland took a seven-point lead, as the record breaking crowd of the DAM Health Stadium roared.
Beginning to build on their momentum, Scotland were on the hunt for another try.
Keeping their boots firmly inside the visitor’s territory, flanker Rachel McLachlan sent a cracking wide pass into the hands of winger Fran McGhie. Scotland’s breakthrough star of the 2023 Six Nations danced her way through the Irish defence, soaring over the whitewash to score her first try for Scotland in style. With the bonus point secured, next up was Nelson with the conversion. Her ice-cool composure saw the ball safely go through the sticks and Scotland extended their lead by 14 points.
In the final 10 minutes of the game, Scotland naturally were hungry for more. A solid scrum inside Ireland’s 22 saw the ball released to the backs, with Rollie making her way through the wall of green. A high tackle on the full-back gave Scotland advantage, as they continued to make ground. Malcolm dashed over the line but her try was denied with an unfortunate knock on.
With play taken back for the advantage for the high tackle to Rollie, Nelson kicked for the corner, and Scotland prepared once again for a lineout and driving maul, which went to plan.
After a series of phases from the forwards, Mattinson took play blind to find Malcolm, who crashed over the line for a fifth try. The conversion was a tight squeeze, but not one that would get past Nelson, as she added to her string of successful conversions.
You’d be forgiven for thinking with minutes left on the clock, there wasn’t room for anymore, but Scotland had other ideas.
With fresh legs on the field, a fantastic chip from Nelson was chased down the field by Beth Blacklock, who managed to gather the ball. The forwards once again had a chance to propel Scotland closer to the line. Scotland were awarded penalty advantage with Ireland offside, and Nelson used her boot for touch and it was time for one final Scottish fling at the lineout.
Although the ball was lost at the lineout, Scotland were still able to gather and Blacklock once again showed her strength in action, before safely getting the ball to Rollie. Scotland were within stretching distance of the try line and the forwards patiently strung together the phases. But with space out wide, it was time for Mattinson to release the ball to Emma Orr who shipped the ball to Rollie who sprinted over the line in the left corner in the dying moments of the game, as the crowd erupted. Nelson’s conversion unfortunately didn’t make it, however, Scotland still wrapped up the game with their best ranking in the competition since 2017.
FULL TIME: SCOTLAND 36-10 IRELAND
Scotland 15. Chloe Rollie (Loughborough Lightning) 14. Coreen Grant (Saracens) 13. Emma Orr (Heriot’s) 12. Meryl Smith (University of Edinburgh) 11. Francesca McGhie (Watsonians) 10. Helen Nelson VICE-CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning) 9. Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs) 1. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning) 2. Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors) 3. Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) 4. Jade Konkel-Roberts (Harlequins) 5. Louise McMillan (Saracens) 6. Rachel Malcolm CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning) 7. Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks) 8. Evie Gallagher (Worcester Warriors)
Replacements 16. Jodie Rettie (Saracens) (76 mins for Skeldon) 17. Anne Young (Sale Sharks) (76 mins for Leah) 18. Elliann Clarke (University of Edinburgh) (76 mins for Belisle) 19. Eva Donaldson (University of Edinburgh) (71 mins for McMillan) 20. Eilidh Sinclair (Exeter Chiefs) (71 mins for McLachlan) 21. Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors) (56 minutes for Mairi McDonald) 22. Beth Blacklock (Harlequins) (76 mins for Smith) 23. Liz Musgrove (Wasps) (76 mins for McGhee)
Ireland 15. Lauren Delany 14. Aoife Doyle 13. Aoife Dalton 12. Vicky Irwin 11. Natasja Behan 10. Dannah O’Brien 9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe 1. Linda Djougang 2. Neve Jones 3. Christy Haney 4. Nichola Fryday CAPTAIN 5. Sam Monaghan 6. Brittany Hogan 7. Grace Moore 8. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird
Replacements 16. Clara Nielson 17. Sadhbh McGrath 18. Kathryn Buggy 19. Hannah O’Connor 20. Dorothy Wall 21. Ailsa Hughes 22. Anna McGann 23. Méabh Deely
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Clara Munarini (IFR)
Assistant Referee 2: Katherine Ritchie (RFU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (IFR)
Player of the Match: Meryl Smith (Scotland)
Attendance: 4,862
80:00 Second Half End
81:54
76:22
76:21
76:20
76:19
76:18
76:17
76:16
75:56
74:40
71:02
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69:02
68:43
66:33
65:12
64:13
58:28
58:02
56:50
56:04
54:59
53:40
50:47
47:00
40:00 First Half End
40:15
15:34
05:05
Kick-off 7:30 pm
