Full-time: Ireland 43-21 Scotland

Ireland claim a clinical win over Scotland to win the match and with it, the Triple Crown. Six tries to three and indefatigable in defence, Andy Farrell’s men are worth their spoils. They can still mathematically win the title depending on what happens in Paris later on.

For Scotland, it is a third-placed finish in the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations. Yes, they have finished there in the past but this campaign was surely one to be viewed through the prism of progress. Consecutive wins over England, Wales and France brought delight, scintillating rugby and hope.

Thanks for joining us and we’ll see you soon when the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations rolls into town.

Try Ireland

Tommy O’Brien puts a great big slathering of gloss on things as he strikes from distance to outpace Sione Tuipulotu and hare home for his second. It means Ireland go past 40 points which is perhaps a tad generous, but the better team they have doubtless been.

Exceptional Ireland keep Scots at bay

That’s as vital as any try you’ll see. Tadhg Beirne gets his mitts all over a Scotland ruck, timing it perfectly after the team in blue had gone through countless phases, throwing the kitchen sink in aim of a bonus point, and Beirne spoils. Is there time for one last Scotland foray into Irish territory?

Crowley extends lead

Ireland again squeezing the life out of this, and Jack Crowley’s penalty goal takes them out of the reach of two converted scores with seven left on the clock.

Try Ireland

Tommy O’Brien gives his side the scoreboard jolt they craved. Crowley pops to Ciaran Frawley, who does the same to winger O’Brien to pierce through the Scottish defence. Crowley converts and it’s 33-21.

TRY Scotland!

What’s that about great teams?

Scotland, backs to the wall, score a beauty and it’s all down to the intricate handling of the forward pack. After probing through the likes of Kinghorn and Graham, the ball finds Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist in double quick time, the latter then popping Rory Darge over. It’s like watching peak sevens rugby! Russell converts and Scotland again within a score.

Try Ireland

Great teams reply under pressure and Ireland do just that, and not in dissimilar fashion to Scotland’s last try. The immediacy of their response is a blow to the boys in blue as, after a multi-phase approach, debutant Darragh Murray crashes over with Crowley converting.

TRY Scotland!

Another penalty against the hosts, this time for offside and Ewan Ashman will tap-and-go. Scotland work through 10 phases and it’s Finn Russell who scores a try very similar to the one he bagged in Wales, dummying from close range and forcing his way over. A superb conversion as well. Scotland back in this!

Penalty Scotland

Caelan Doris goes high on Ewan Ashman in a routine tackle. Referee Pearce says it’s just a penalty and doesn’t warrant any further action. Russell clips one to touch – can Scotland haul themselves back into this?

Irish limpets secure turnover

It’s a bit pedestrian, but Scotland are making yards. Ben White goes through a half-gap and then Zander Fagerson boshes his way a little further. Tadhg Beirne shows his steely class with a great jackal pinch and Ireland escape without any damage done.

Scrappy start to the second half

Each side delivering a few post-interval handling errors but Ireland’s are more telling as Stuart McCloskey ups the ante from a knock-on by pushing Ben White after the referee had blown his whistle. Scotland are into the correct half of the pitch..

Last 40 of the championship for Scotland

It comes down to this final half of rugby, the last act for Scotland in the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations. A 12-point deficit to overturn in Dublin won’t be easy, but it’s been done in Cardiff within the last month by this group.

Half-time snaps

An assortment of images from an attritional half of rugby. In order: Kyle Steyn getting to grips with opposite wing, Robert Balacoune; Darcy Graham going over for his 38th international try; Sione Tuipulotu getting some attention from Garry Ringrose; and Finn Russell lands a conversion against the backdrop of a fitting LED board.

Half-time: Ireland 19-7 Scotland

It’s Ireland who hold a lead at the break, and they’ve been good for it.

Jamie Osborne scored within a couple of minutes but Scotland rallied immediately through Darcy Graham, who became his country’s all-time leading try scorer in the process.

However, Ireland themselves rallied with tries from Dan Sheehan and Robert Balacoune, with Jack Crowley converting two from three, meaning it’s 19-7 at the interval.

Scotland have enjoyed parity in terms of possession (49%) and territory (47%) but some stellar Irish rearguard defence has kept any further scores at bay.

Ashman now down

Worrying for Scotland as Ewan Ashman, himself on for fellow hooker George Turner (who it would appear has failed his HIA), is in need of medical treatment for what looks like an upper shoulder knock. He gets up though, as the whole of Scotland breathes a sigh of relief.

Ireland piling on defensive pressure

Scotland are being squeezed for time when in possession, in part down to Ireland’s razor-sharp defence. The pressure tells when Jack Dempsey throws a forward pass and Ireland win a scrum halfway inside the Scottish half. A big six minutes to the interval.

Penalty Scotland

Tom O’Toole, the Irish loosehead, is called for interfering at a home ruck. Scotland kick to touch and Blair Kinghorn – yes the Scottish full-back – goes up in the line-out. It’s a bid to be a bit clever but Ireland spoil it and earn a scrum close to their own line.

Ireland obstruction; penalty Scotland

Ireland are sucking the life out of the Scottish defence through phase play, but they come unstuck in a busy midfield with a number of players potentially at fault for obstruction. Russell clears accordingly but misses touch, and Ireland launch again from deep..

Try Ireland

A point a minute for Ireland and this time it’s a great finish by Robert Balacoune. McCloskey is the dummy in the middle, the big man attracting defenders towards him before lobbing a long ball out to his winger, who finishes from distance in devastating fashion.

Play stopped for Turner knock

Luke Pearce spots that George Turner has taken a knock to the head and immediately stops play. Scotland’s hooker is up and about, but naturally the right call for a Head Injury Assessment. Ewan Ashman comes on in his stead.

Excellent Irish defence

Russell is then flattened by Stuart McCloskey when Scotland looked set in similar fashion to their opening try, and Ireland clear their lines with aplomb. Real back-and-forth here in Dublin.

Russell lands howitzer of a touch-finder

Caelan Doris takes out Ben White a tad early and referee Luke Pearce awards the penalty. Finn Russell wastes no time in thumping a fantastic kick upfield, and it’ll be Scotland now with the chance to attack..

Try Ireland

And turn the screw they do, and from a predictable source. Dan Sheehan’s line-out throw is on point and after securing the maul, the hooker flies out from the mass of bodies to go over for the game’s third try in its opening 10 minutes. Crowley converts to make it 14-7. Breathless!

Penalty Ireland

Crowley pops a beaut into touch after Graham, fresh from his lovely try, transgresses by way of an offside seam 40m out. Chance for Ireland to turn the screw here..

TRY Scotland!

France, remember, scored two early tries last weekend and Scotland rallied, and how they have here. No fewer than 19 phases – it seemed like everyone got a touch – and Blair Kinghorn times his pass to Darcy Graham who goes over in the right-hand corner for his 38th international try – a national record. Finn Russell adds a humdinger of a touchline conversion and we’re all square!

Try Ireland

Play was actually called back for an Irish knock-on and from that opening set piece, Zander Fagerson is adjudged to have brought the scrum up illegally. Ireland penalty and from the attacking line-out, Jamison Gibson-Park feeds Robert Balacoune, before Jamie Osborne goes over with ease. Crowley adds the extras and Ireland lead 7-0.

Kick-off at the Aviva!

Here we go then. Ireland v Scotland. A packed Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Triple Crown decider. The potential for further joy this evening for one of them. It’s all tremendously exciting isn’t it?

Jack Crowley launches the ball into skies that are working to clear fireworks – we’ll have plenty on the pitch over the next 80 minutes, that’s for sure. Huw Jones pouches it and after a couple of phases, Ben White clears into Jamie Osborne’s clutches.

Ireland break through Crowley but Finn Russell is on the scramble and sclaffs one into touch.

From Rome to Riches

An opening day defeat at Stadio Olimpico put paid to Scotland’s 2026 Six Nations ambitions – at least that’s what the majority of media personalities would have you believe.

Wins over England at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, away in Cardiff and last weekend, also at home, to France, have galvanised a rugby nation to the point that a win in Dublin today would reap a first Triple Crown since 1990.

If that were to happen, then all eyes will turn to Paris this evening as France host England, with the hosts needing a bonus point victory to ensure title celebrations. Scotland, Ireland and Les Bleus could all be crowned champions. A fascinating day of international rugby gets underway in little under 20 minutes’ time.

This afternoon's teams

A reminder of how the sides will line up for today’s Triple Crown decider in Dublin.

Gregor Townsend has brought in Zander Fagerson to start at tighthead prop, with D’arcy Rae switching to the replacements’ bench.

Grant Gilchrist and Max Williamson come in to the second row in place of Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, both of whom are ruled out through injury.

Alex Craig, Magnus Bradbury and Kyle Rowe are primed for first involvements in this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

Triple Crown tussle

As well as both sides having championship aspirations on this final Saturday of action, the sub-plot to this afternoon’s game sees the Triple Crown on the line. The four Home Nations have this spectacular trophy within their Six Nations schedule – teams win it by defeating the other three sides and both Ireland and Scotland can lift it today.

Scotland haven’t won the Triple Crown in some 36 years, since the Grand Slam of 1990. Ireland, by contrast, have eight such titles in the Six Nations era alone.

Will it be a super Saturday for Scots?

Good afternoon and welcome to Scottish Rugby’s coverage of today’s 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations finale as Scotland face Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Kick-off is 2:10pm and we’ll bring you all the live updates as the game progresses.