Ireland see out the final few minutes like the top class team they are, and win a second straight Guinness Six Nations title in the process, even before the championship’s final match this evening in Lyon.

Scotland were competitive, selfless and put Ireland under huge pressure at times, but it wasn’t quite enough despite Huw Jones’ late solo score.

Congratulations to Andy Farrell and his team on winning the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, and thanks for joining us.

Huw Jones does just that! Ireland’s defence is switched off and Huw Jones skips a tackle and dances past a flailing James Lowe. Russell pops over the extras to make it 17-13 with a couple to go.

Harry Byrne is high on Finn Russell, and needlessly so. It’s a yellow card and the replacement stand-off’s cameo will come to and end so close to full-time. Scotland a try away from at least a losing bonus point.

Referee Carley says Scott Cummings has competed unfairly with Tadhg Beirne at an Irish line-out, which is a tad harsh but to the letter of the law, correct. Harry Byrne, who is on for Jordan Larmour, is operating at 10 with Jack Crowley at full-back.

Javan Sebastian and Sam Skinner are the final additions for Scotland, on in place of Zander Fagerson and Cummings.

Scotland, who have gone well past the 200 mark in terms of tackles made this afternoon, refuse to lie down and hold up another Ireland near-try. Russell clears really well and then Scotland force a knock-on to boot. Not long to go but hope has to spring.

Ewan Ashman is the unfortunate recipient of a yellow for being in and around to hold up that Henshaw effort. Ireland tap and go, Andrew Porter going over for his side’s second try which Crowley converts. 17-6. Matt Fagerson and Kyle Rowe on for Rory Darge and Blair Kinghorn repsectively for the final 15 minutes.

A lot to explain. Ringrose knocks on again and Jack Dempsey makes years before the ball gets its way to Blair Kinghorn out wide left. His attempted offload is gobbled up by Ringrose in the next phase and the replacement hares up the touchline for all of 60 metres before being felled by Van der Merwe.

Ireland then work an offside penalty to their advantage and after a few phases Robbie Henshaw is over the line but superbly held up by Cam Redpath, who is on for Stafford McDowall (George Horne also on for Ben White). Phew. Penalty advantage remains, mind.

Calvin Nash is odds-on to score when he gets a ball about 15 metres from the line, on the right-hand side. He steps in and tries to knock three or four Scots off balance as they sweep to defend, but Nash is held up by a combination of Chistie and Gilchrist. Super, last-gasp stuff from Scotland, who have a scrum as close to their own line as allowed.

Some interest on that knock-on as Scotland muster a mighty scrum to force a penalty, making the exit so much easier. Finn Russell clears up to the halfway line and his troops can rest, if only momentarily.

Ewan Ashman is on for George Turner at hooker, and Rory Sutherland makes a welcome first appearance of this year’s championship, replacing Pierre Schoeman at loosehead.

Scotland are staying in this, but it’s sapping. The Ireland scrum-half is taken early at the breakdown and Ireland are firmly fixed on coming away from this foray with a try. Tadhg Beirne goes first, then Peter O’Mahony, and it looks for all the world like they’re going over but Garry Ringrose knocks on to the visitors’ delight.

The on-field decision was ‘no try’, the ball had been dislodged as Furlong tried to ground, so it’s a knock-on and Scotland will exit, much to the annoyance of the majority within the Aviva.

Finn Russell’s kick-off is a little heavy and from the scrum on halfway, Ireland summon the minerals to force a penalty, sensing a breakthrough. Crowley kicks into Scotland’s 22 where Dan Sheehan will throw and then attempt to get in the mix for a second try.

Looks like it was Kinghorn who was offside as Scotland’s garrison tries to keep the hosts at bay. Referee Carley speaks to the skippers to keep a calm order and Ireland opt for a quick tap. Dan Sheehan goes first, then Tadhg Furlong, who thinks he’s over but the officials want a closer look..

Scotland flying in off their feet, but it was at the end of some excellent defensive work as Ireland threatened through James Lowe and then Bundee Aki. Crowley clips over the first points of the second half. 10-6.

Matthew Carley checks that we’re all present and correct, and Jack Crowley takes his cue to re-start. It’s a familiar textbook exit from Scotland, although Ireland are keen to take advantage of a missed touch..

The scrum is sound but the resulting phase sees Ben White knock on in slippery conditions. That should be that..

Ireland were given a late penalty for a Blair Kinghorn high tackle as he chased down his own kick and tried to cover Calvin Nash. Crowley opts to kick for an attacking line-out rather than get inside for oranges or other replenishment options, but it amounts to nothing.

A one point game, then, with two Finn Russell penalties to counter Dan Sheehan’s try, converted by Jack Crowley. Scotland matching their championship-chasing opponents without doubt.

Just as it was typed, Andy Christie gives away a penalty for obstructing the running line of Pierre Schoeman, so Ireland will have a penalty from easily 45 metres. Crowley launches it with everything he’s got but it drifts wide and Scotland clear back to the Irish stand-off. Josh van der Flier then knocks on around halfway and as we reach the last orders of the first 40, Scotland have a handy position here.

He’s been excellent so far, Andy Christie. He’d already won a cracking turnover early doors and with Ireland poised beautifully to scope out the Scottish try-line, the Saracens back row spoils things with the same routine.

Pierre Schoeman is a bit jumpy at scrum time and referee Carley says he’s come out of the scrum, then back in. The hosts kick for an attacking line-out and this will be a test with the final minutes of the half to come..

Making his first Six Nations appearance, Stafford McDowall has been calm and composed so far, but the Glasgow Warriors centre really makes onlookers take note when he brushes off the attentions of Bundee Aki and Jack Crowley, making 30-odd metres with the ball affixed to his hands. Scotland eventually kick it dead through Ben White and then, with Ireland having kicked the ball back, a dark blue knock-on allows us all to take stock. Frenetic at the Aviva Stadium.

Duhan van der Merwe is a giant of a human, but anyone who hugs onto the ball in a tackle is going to get what for, and that’s precisely what happens when the hulking winger is brought down when trying to forge an attack. Ireland’s penalty is ultimately wasted when Crowley overhits a kick through, past the field of play, and Scotland are recipients of another 22m drop-out. A bit loose at the moment, but that suits Scotland?

Scotland enjoying plenty of possession in Ireland half now and Joe McCarthy is a  good bit offside. No advantage experienced, so Finn Russell will have another chance to land a penalty. In front of the posts, 30m out, not a bother. 7-6 now.

Ireland come back with intent, as they so often do, and Jack Crawley threads a tidy grubber through towards the Scottish line. Blair Kinghorn just about touches it, but the ball tails off for a drop-out and the Scottish full-back can see the funny side of a potentially more awkward outcome.

A decent chance for Scotland here, after Ireland are called for rolling illegally in the tackle. Finn Russell lines up from 45 metres…

And it’s good! Scotland take the lead through their talisman, who reaches 50 championship points for the current campaign in the process.

Sheehan won’t mind the previous play because he;’s just been gifted a try. George Turner’s line-out throw is too high for the clutches of Grant Gilchrist and it lands into the gleeful hands of Ireland’s hooker, who scores a fifth of the championship in the most serve of fashions. Jack Crowley adds the extras, 7-3 to the home side.

James Lowe, in with a shout for Player of the Championship perhaps, shows a lovely touch with a grubber which almost puts Blair Kinghorn in a spot of bother. Scotland clear but the home side sense opportunity so well and when an offside is awarded by Carley, they opt to drill it deep for an attacking line-out. Ireland so, so good from here but Scotland counter superbly and usher Dan Sheehan and crew into touch.

Scotland have started brightly and it almost gets positively dazzling when Andy Christie charges down a Gibson-Park box kick, but the ball dribbles out a matter of feet from Ireland’s line.

The hosts are allowed to recover when Scotland botch a free-kick awarded by referee Matthew Carley for a squint line-out. Frantic stuff in Dublin!

The final chapter of Scotland’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations begins at a venue they’ve yet to win at. Which means now is the time, right?

Jordan Larmour is a late change at full-back for Hugo Keenan, who is out with a hip issue.

Finn Russell starts proceedings, Caelan Doris fields the kick-off and Jamison Gibson-Park clears but fails to make touch, although Scotland gift an early penalty for not releasing.

A Zandmark even? It won’t be a factor in his own head 20 minutes from kick-off, but Zander Fagerson will today surpass Euan Murray as Scotland’s most capped male prop forward. Heather Lockhart on 85 (three of which won when playing flanker) and Karen Findlay (79) are the country’s leading prop cap gatherers. 10 minutes until go time at the Aviva.

It’s been a while since Scotland tasted victory on Irish soil; 14 years in fact. With the Aviva Stadium in creation, in 2010 the Gaelic football shrine Croke Park hosted Ireland’s home matches and it was Johnnie Beattie who scored the decisive try in a 23-20 Scottish success.

Tighthead prop Elliot Millar-Mills has been ruled out of this afternoon’s game with a calf injury and will be replaced on the replacements’ bench by Javan Sebastian. Kick-off a little over an hour away in Dublin.

 

Lots at stake this afternoon, with Ireland competing for the championship proper and Scotland seeking a highest-ever finish in the table, which would happen with a runners-up spot.

For that to happen, nothing short of a win would do for the visitors, with the rarefied riches of a Triple Crown on offer. The last time that was achieved was 1990, Scotland having totalled ten such accolades in their history.

It’s our Doc’s final game today after 33 years at Scottish Rugby.

You can listen to an interview with him on this week’s episode of the Official Scottish Rugby Podcast.

Here is a reminder of when you can watch our game against Ireland.

The Scotland changing room is all ready for the players arriving in around 10 minutes.

It’s a wet day in Dublin with less than two hours until kick-off now.

When he takes to the field later today, Zander Fagerson will become the most-capped male prop for Scotland.

Here is a reminder of your Scotland team to play Ireland in Dublin.

Stafford McDowall will make his Guinness Six Nations debut today.

Welcome to Round 5 of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

It’s Super Saturday and Scotland are in Dublin to play Ireland.

Their final match of this year’s campaign kicks off at 4.45pm.

The match is live on STV/ITV and you can follow the action right here.