Ireland go home rightful victors after a stellar first half display saw them score four unanswered tries.

Scotland did kick into gear early in the second half, but Ireland responded well, and, despite leaking three tries to the Scots in the second stanza, they have secured their maiden win of the Six Nations U-20 competition.

Glimpses of brilliance from Scotland wasn’t enough on the day, but there were really promising signs from a number of players, including impacts off the bench.

We’ll return to Scotland U20 action on 21 February when the boys in blue head to England, who currently sit atop the tree.

It was a final chance, but ultimately it came to nothing as the ball was lost forward over the line.

That brings the match to a close and sees all five points going back on the plane with Ireland.

Full time: Ireland 33 – 15 Scotland 

With two minutes to go, Ireland will have one final push. Charlie Molony is named as man of the match for his hattrick of tries.

Again Scotland are pinged for not retreating after a Jack Brown up and under. That’s twice this half.

Ireland clear up field and into the blues’ 22.

Campbell Waugh is the final change for Scotland, with Nairn Moncrieff making way for him, for the final seven minutes.

Matthew Urwin is the final change for Scotland, coming off for Ross Wolfenden.

Ten minutes remain in this one and Scotland are pushing hard for a bonus point try here.

If they can snag two tries, they’d earn themselves two bonus points. What can we expect here in the final throes?

A break comes from the kick off as the ball goes to ground and it’s hacked ahead by Paterson once, twice, three times before collecting it and falling over the try line.

He did incredibly well to not be caught and to dot down without knocking on.

This game has had everything – and there’s still 20 minutes left to play.

Urwin’s conversion is unsuccessful but the gap is closing. (33 – 15)

Ollie Blyth-Lafferty is heading off the pitch with 15 minutes to go. Jamie Stewart is coming on for his competitive debut.

A trick play off the lineout gives Oisin Minogue the simplest of tries.

The Irish feigned going to the back of the lineout, while Minogue ghosted to the front unwatched and the short lineout was thrown.

Shades of Tony Woodcock in the 2011 World Cup Final for the All Blacks.

The conversion was good from Green. (33 – 10)

But it’s lost by the Scots off their own scrum, and here come Ireland again.

They win a penalty on the 5m line and opt for another lineout.

Oliver Duncan is on for Scotland, Christian Lindsay is coming off.

The Irish resurgence is coming though, and after a penalty in the midfield goes their way, the resulting lineout sees the ball won and through green hands as they inch closer to Scotland’s line for the first time this half.

A darting run from Green sees the gap to the line closed further and a penalty right out in front is given to the visitors.

It’s a tap and go as they heave towards the line, and as it’s flung wide for what would be a simple touch down, it’s lost forward by Green and a Scotland scrum on the 5m line is given.

A ping pong battle from 22 to 22 ensues, ending only when Scotland are penalised for not back tracking.

Ireland thump the penalty up field, but it’s swiftly turned over by the Scots.

So close, but there was a knock on in the grounding, so the right decision in the end. Scotland are leaving their mark on their opponents out there.

How long can it continue? The score remains 26 – 10 to Ireland.

There’s a check going on in the background here, he wants to check a potential knock on.

Scotland are looking much better after the break and are pushing their agenda on the visitors.

They are creeping farther and farther up the field and, with the ball centrally on the 22, fling it wide to Jack Brown, who pushes hard but is held up close to the line.

Patterson, only on the pitch for five minutes, crashes over for Scotland’s third of the night!

Seb Stephen is on for Billy Allen.

Scotland almost crashed over. Patterson in his first impact on the game, grabbed the ball from the base of the ruck and nearly sniped over.

The resulting play sees Joe Roberts fly out from the back of a rolling maul close to the line and bang the ball down for the home side’s second try of the night, right by the corner flag!

The conversion attempt from Urwin is unsuccessful though. (26 – 10)

A couple of other changes to tell you about.

Jake Shearer is on for Oli McKenna and Bart Godsell is on for Charlie Moss.

Ireland’s Wisniewski gets the game back underway, Scotland now attacking the Murrayfield end.

Hector Patterson is on, Noah Cowan has come off in his place.

Rocky, would be the word to use to describe Scotland’s first half.

The home side have all the work to do, but they do have points on the board.

Both sides have returned to the field now and the restart is imminent.

Scotland almost nicked a second try right at the death, but it wasn’t to be.

The rain has made handling significantly more challenging in the past five or so minutes, and the ball was lost forward by both sides.

Referee Bertazza brings proceedings to a close for the first half. (26 – 5)

Scotland have poked and prodded since the disallowed Irish try. A brilliant cross kick nearly paid off as the rain comes pouring down.

Sadly a foot crossed the touch line and the phase came to an abrupt end.

It’s no try! They have been pinged for obstruction in the build up and it will be a penalty for Scotland.

They’re able to clear their lines and thanks their lucky stars for that one. A great catch from the officiating team.

The ref has called for a TMO review as there may have been an obstructing player in the build up…

Just as I say that – Ireland’s hooker Henry Walker dots down off the back of a huge rolling maul from a lineout set piece.

Scotland did their best to get men behind the ball and drag it away, but the green wave crashed hard and Walker crashed down.

Scotland’s defence is holding much firmer after the Watson try.

They’ve really woken up now and are making life much more difficult for the men from the Emerald Isle.

The first scrum of the game comes after 27 minutes – it has been frantic to say the least.

They have countered! Scotland find their feet and throw a hook right back.

After strong breaks from Reuben Logan and Johnny Ventisei, the ball was popped to left winger Watson, who acrobatically forces the ball over the line and opens Scotland’s scoring!

The conversion was unsuccessful from Urwin. (26 – 5)

And it is a fourth. It’s Molony in for his third of the night.

It’s too easy for Ireland at the moment, as they picked it cleanly from a ruck right under the posts and flicked it once, twice, to their right wing who scores the easiest of tries.

This time though, mercifully, Green misses the conversion. (26 – 0)

Scotland need to stem the tide here, they find themselves three converted tries down, and once more now camped inside their 22 with Ireland holding the ball.

And they’re over again! This time it’s shoved over from short range after a series of phases right on Scotland’s line.

Second rower Billy Corrigan gets the plaudits this time. It’s an easy conversion for Green, and Ireland have extended their lead to 21, just 18 minutes into the match. (21 – 0)

Penalties are piling up against the Scots here, and the visitors are more than happy to keep bundling the ball into touch farther and farther up the field.

Their lineout is good, and after a rumble and a number of phases nearing the whitewash, scrum half Clark Logan flicks it back to Wisniewski who puts it on his toe out wide.

Again, it’s inch perfect, and Charlie Molony crosses over for the visitors’ second try of the night.

Daniel Green adds the extras from the touchline and Scotland look shellshocked at the moment. (14 – 0)

Just as Scotland were beginning to assert themselves back into the match, an inch perfect raking kick from Wisniewski puts the home side on the back foot.

As they try to escape from their 22, left winger Fergus Watson is bundled into touch and it’ll be an Irish throw from about 20 out from the Scottish line.

Ireland have started lightning fast – and it’s taking Scotland time to get into the match.

Pinned into their 22, they win a penalty for Ireland not rolling away and they’re able to clear and begin their own phases.

Fly half Sam Wisniewski converted from right in front to see the visitors go 7 – 0 up immediately. (7 – 0)

Green brought the ball down and Scotland were immediately punished for not rolling away in the tackle.

Ireland clear as far as Scotland’s 40m line, and the resulting lineout maul was flicked through the hands for a few phases.

Easy as that though, a reverse ball from Green went to the hands of right winger Charlie Molony and he scythed through a weak Scottish defence to open the scoring under the posts just two minutes in. (5 – 0)

A slight delay to proceedings before Tomas Bertazza puts whistle to lips and we’re live.

Matthew Urwin drop-kicks the ball skyward and safely it’s taken down by fullback Daniel Green.

Game on!

We are seconds away from the first ball being kicked. Ireland’s anthem was first – as always, sung with a huge amount of pride and gusto.

Flower of Scotland equally so! Here we go!

Time is ticking away and we are just 10 minutes out from kick off. Tonight’s match officials are…

Referee: Tomas Bertazza
AR1: Fillipo Russo
AR2: Federico Vedovelli
TMO: Matteo Liperini

Elsewhere in the Six Nations U-20s, Wales overcame Italy 20 – 18 after being five points down at the break in Treviso.

And England put the sword to France at The Rec in Bath. They won 27 – 10, three tries to one.

Those results see England top with eight points from their two matches. France and Italy are tied on five points, then Wales on four.

Scotland and Ireland are the two sides yet to register a competition point. That will change tonight, no matter the result!

The weather looks to be holding out for the time being, although Googling ‘forecast’, it’s less convincing.

It will stay at 4 degrees throughout the match, but I think we’ll be lucky to stay dry for the duration.

The coin has been tossed! Scotland will kick off and will be attacking towards the Riverside stand.

15. Jack Brown – Edinburgh Rugby
14. Nairn Moncrieff – Edinburgh Rugby
13. Johnny Ventisei – Captain – Glasgow Warriors
12. Kerr Yule – Glasgow Warriors
11. Fergus Watson – Glasgow Warriors
10. Matthew Urwin – Glasgow Warriors
9. Noah Cowan – Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders

1. Oliver McKenna – Glasgow Warriors
2. Joe Roberts – Glasgow Warriors
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – Edinburgh Rugby
4. Charlie Moss – Montpellier
5. Dan Halkon – Glasgow Warriors
6. Christian Lindsay – Loretto School/Edinburgh Rugby
7. Billy Allen – Dungannon RFC
8. Reuben Logan – Northampton Saints

Replacements

16. Seb Stephen – Edinburgh Academical FC
17. Jake Shearer – Glasgow Warriors
18. Jamie Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby
19. Bart Godsell – Loughborough University
20. Oliver Duncan – Edinburgh Rugby
21. Hector Patterson – Edinburgh Rugby
22. Ross Wolfenden – Edinburgh Rugby
23. Campbell Waugh – Glasgow Hawks

Ireland Men’s U20s:

15. Daniel Green
14. Charlie Molony
13. Gene O’Leary Kareem
12. Connor Fahy
11. Ciarán Mangan
10. Sam Wisniewski
9. Clark Logan

1. Billy Bohan
2. Henry Walker
3. Alex Mullan
4. Mahon Ronan
5. Billy Corrigan
6. Michael Foy
7. Bobby Power
8. Éanna McCarthy (C)

Replacements:
16. Connor Magee
17. Paddy Moore
18. Tom McAllister
19. David Walsh
20. Oisin Minogue
21. Will Wootton
22. Dylan Hicks
23. Eoghan Smyth

Welcome one and all to tonight’s 2025 Under-20 Men’s Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland.

Tonight’s match will be played at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, and we’re just about an hour out from kick off.

The squads have arrived, and we have your team sheets…