Ireland v Scotland - Scottish Rugby

2023 Rugby World Cup

7 Oct 2023 - 8:00 pm

Stade de France, Paris

Full-Time

36 - 14

view scoring

Tries

Lowe2′

Keenan26′

Henderson32′

Keenan39′

Sheehan44′

Ringrose58′

64′Ashman

65′Price

Conversions

Sexton27′

Sexton33′

Sexton40′

65′Russell

66′Russell

Penalties

Drop Goals

75'

Final five minutes

This game has long since been decided, and the action has fallen away as a result. Scotland have rallied through Ewan Ashman and Ollie Smith tries, but Ireland are comfortable Pool B winners.

80'

Ireland impress in Pool B triumph

It’s all over in Paris and it’s Ireland who top Pool B after an outstanding, six-try sweeping aside of Scotland at Stade de France.

Two tries form Hugo Keenan, as well as scores from James Lowe, Garry Ringrose, Iain Henderson, and Dan Sheehan, with extras courtesy of Johnny Sexton, saw Ireland reach 36 match points.

Scotland came to life, albeit late on, with Ewan Ashman and Ali Price adding tries, converted by Finn Russell but ultimately, the top-ranked side in the competition performed as such and very best of luck to them for the rest of the tournament.

79'

Bealham close to another for Ireland

Finlay Bealham thinks he’s over for Ireland seventh try in the game’s final act, but it’s called back for a knock-on and we’ll need to have a scrum to see the time out.

53'

Ireland hold firm once more

Ireland are offside on their own line, but from the tap-and-go, Scotland knock on and Ireland can rest easy with a scrum five metres out. The match has petered somewhat, Ireland having emptied their bench with the game seemingly done.

65'

Price adds another in quick succession

Well, the old bus routine isn’t it? Scotland wait an age for a try and get another straight after, Huw Jones finding Ollie Smith in the tackle with a kindly-bouncing ball, and it’s Ali Price who is on Smith’s shoulder to finish. Russell converts, 36-14.

57'

Ringrose adds sixth try for Ireland

Garry Ringrose is lurking out wide, the grateful recipient of a deft Jack Crowley cross-field kick. 36-0 and it’s going to take seem form of brilliant display to stop Andy Farrell’s team at this Rugby World Cup.

63'

Ashman gets Scotland on the board

It’s taken an hour, but Scotland have their try. Jack Dempsey skilfully collects a Finn Russell offload and from the resulting ruck, Ali Price finds Sione Tuipulotu who pops to Ewan Ashman to run it in from 20 metres. Russell converts to make it 36-7.

44'

Sheehan slides in for fifth

Ireland take swift advantage of the extra man and ship it right then back left, with Jamison Gibson-Park floating a ball perfectly to Dan Sheehan to ease over. 31-0 in Paris, and Johnny Sexton comes off for Jack Crowley with a full 35 minutes left on the clock. Scott Cummings on for Grant Gilchrist as well.

50'

Fine 50:22 from Finn

The now-captain is trying to haul his side off the canvas and lands a perfect 50:22 to get sight of the Irish line. Darcy Graham is off with a foot injury, George Horne on to likely play wing.

42'

Ollie Smith yellow card

It’s a cynical trip by Ollie Smith on Johnny Sexton and he’s rightly shown a yellow for his actions. TMO Brett Cronan suggests Zander Fagerson, who is 40 metres away, is also involved but thankfully sense prevails. Scotland down to 14 though.

38'

Bonus point for Ireland

It’s tough going – Ireland are rampant and Scotland are scrambling to control them. Hugo Keenan gets his second, and Ireland’s fourth, to secure the bonus point before half-time when he reaches up to grab a Johnny Sexton pass that was perhaps meant for another, but it matters not. 26-0 with Sexton’s conversion and we’re almost at the break.

32'

Henderson powers over for Ireland’s third

The world’s top-ranked team can unsurprisingly do it in all manner of ways and this time it’s the grunt of the pack. With the knowledge of a penalty advantage for offside, Ireland resist temptation to kick wide and instead truck it up through what seems like each and every forward. It’s Iain Henderson who breaks through and makes the telling contribution, with Sexton adding the extra two points to make it 19-0.

41'

Second half starting with Scotland needing the spectacular

At 26-0 down, Scotland fans would direct you to Twickenham in 2019, when they came back from a game lost at 31-0 down to eventually draw 38-38. It’s that sort of unbelievable comeback that’s needed here in Paris this evening.

Scotland gather the restart and enjoy a few phases, before play breaks up and the players flare up after an altercation..

40'

Half-time in Paris; Ireland excel

It’s been a clinic from the world’s best team at Stade de France. Four tries through Hugo Keenan (2), James Lowe and Iain Henderson, three of them converted by Johnny Sexton, mean that the favourites are almost home and hosed.

Scotland looked threatening in parts but couldn’t convert any pressure into points and lost captain Jamie Ritchie and Blair Kinghorn to add insult.

24'

Superb Scottish rearguard defence

Ireland are plodding and plotting to places on the pitch where they normally make great use of. But Scotland are not for backing down and Rory Darge steals it, with Finn Russell centimetres away from landing the 50:22 of the tournament. The game is more broken now, as bodies and minds try to find second and indeed third winds.

28'

Second try for Ireland

Off a line-out, Bundee Aki, once of the revelations of this Rugby World Cup, barges through and offloads to Garry Ringrose who sets Hugo Keenan free to hare home in a carbon copy of Ireland’s opening try. Johnny Sexton lands an excellent conversion and for all of Scotland’s pressure, Ireland are 12-0 up in Paris.

10'

Scrum penalty against Ireland; Scotland again go to the corner

Finn Russell opts once more to go for touch after Ireland collapse a scrum – they lose the line-out but Jamison Gibson-Park fumbles it into touch, actually giving Scotland another line-out a tad closer to the Irish line.

14'

18 phases for Scotland but Ireland escape

It’s tiring to just watch with the effort these sides are putting in. Scotland have no fewer than 18 phases of possession but they just can’t get tangible ground. It’s lost int he tackle and Ireland will have the put-in to the next scrum. 38 tackles form Ireland alone so far tells the story.

18'

Captain Ritchie can’t continue; Matt Fagerson on

Jamie Ritchie has taken a few enormous hits in attack and defence and just can’t keep going. Could be a shoulder injury, maybe arm, maybe a combination of both. He’s understandably crushed as he takes his leave. Matt Fagerson is on in his skipper’s stead – what a fine replacement to have at such an early stage.

15'

Scrum penalty against Scotland this time

Zander Fagerson is pinged for bringing that scrum down just as it engaged, and Ireland are eventually out of their own half, with an attacking opportunity of their own.

18'

50:22 for Scotland?

A comedy of errors from the officials, who despite a video replay suggesting otherwise, say that Hugo Keenan’s foot hasn’t gone into touch when collecting an Ollie Smith howitzer. Instead, James Lowe finds his own massive touch and Ireland are in the market for further points..

Scotland rally immediately

Scotland steel themselves and hit back. A high tackle by Caelan Doris on Pierre Schoeman affords Scotland some time on the ball and they gain a few metres through Sione Tuipulotu and Jack Dempsey, amongst others. Play is brought back by referee Nic Berry and Finn Russell kicks to touch around 15 metres out. First attacking platform for Scotland.

11'

Ireland off their feet

Scotland spark into life from that line-out, and Ali Price feeds it out to the back line, where Finn Russell finds Ollie Smith and then Darcy Graham gets his hands on the ball. He’s tackled but James Lowe is well off his feet and referee Berry spots it. Another well-placed Scotland scrum..

Kick-off in Paris Pool B showdown

The denouement of Pool B at Rugby World Cup 2023 is upon us. Scotland versus Ireland, not quite winner-takes-all but not a million miles off it. Scotland require their vert best against the very best.

Johnny Sexton kicks to Jamie Ritchie; captain to captain, and we’re live.

Great defence thwarts Scotland

The chance goes begging as Ireland swarm in defence and force Duhan van der Merwe into not releasing. Ireland get up the pitch but then knock on. Meanwhile, Ollie Smith has come on for 50-cap man Blair Kinghorn, who will undergo a head injury assessment.

19:55

A Tale Of Two Cities?

Scotland have already won in London this year, as they successfully defended the Calcutta Cup against England at Twickenham in the opening match of the Guinness Six Nations in February.

A performance, and victory, of that magnitude is required again in Paris this evening, in what would be a narrative of Dickensian proportions. Kick-off five away at Stade de France.

19:30

30 minutes to go in Paris

Kick-off at Stade de France is 8pm (BST) and the players are getting their final physical and mental preparations in before what is one of the most eagerly-anticipated matches of this Rugby World Cup in France.

Scotland simply need to win, and win by eight points or more. Other permutations are available, but that’s the one that sticks out.

Dream start for Ireland

It’s not good. But it’s very good from Ireland. Garry Ringrose shows and ghosts through the Scotland defence in midfield, and he’s got plenty outside him. The centre feeds Mack Hansen who in turn puts James Lowe in for the easiest of opening tries. Sexton’s conversion is wide, but Ireland are five points up before the anthems have barely played. 79 minutes to go, though..