Match Report: Ireland 43-21 Scotland

When they had ball, Scotland were courageous and inventive, but Ireland simply refused to be unnerved by the quality of their opponents’ periodic fightbacks.

Ireland’s six tries – and their usual intensity and doggedness in contact – were pivotal to their success and, arguably, the margin of victory did not reflect Scotland’s contribution to the contest.

Scotland’s three tries came from Darcy Graham, Finn Russell and Rory Darge and they thus finish the Guinness Six Nations Championship in third place with three victories and 20 tries but the 16-year wait for a win in Dublin goes on.

Lansdowne Road was sun-dappled, though there was a chill in the shade and a brief shower just as kick-off neared.

Ireland, having won the last 11 meetings in all competitions with Scotland, kicked off through Jack Crowley.

The stand-off found early space, but ball was spilled, leading to the first scrum just inside the Scotland 22, at which Zander Fagerson was penalised.

Ireland opted for the touchline and from the lineout, Rob Baloucoune intruded and from the loose possession quick hands enabled Crowley to send Jamie Osborne in under the posts. Crowley converted (7-0, 3 mins).

Scotland’s response was majestic. The build-up saw Jack Dempsey thunder over half-way and Scotland went through the phases with Kyle Steyn involved.

Russell then fizzed a miss-two pass towards George Turner on the left touchline, Pierre Schoeman carried at pace and after 19 phases, Scotland spun the ball right for Blair Kinghorn to send Graham in for his 38^th try for Scotland. Russell converted (7-7, 8 mins).

Graham is now top of the all-time standings surpassing the mark he had held jointly with Lucy Millard in the women’s game.

Graham found himself in the debit column as he was penalised for offside and Ireland, again opted for the touchline.  From Joe McCarthy’s take and the driving maul, Dan Sheehan speared off to score his fourth try against Scotland. Crowley struck a fine conversion (14-7, 11 mins).

Scotland looked to counter again but having seen forwards carry purposefully, Stuart McCloskey nailed Russell going right and Crowley cleared the threat.

Turner departed for an HIA to be replaced by Ewan Ashman and from scrum ball, Ireland attacked right and McCloskey released Baloucoune whose pace saw him dot down in Graham’s tackle. Crowley missed the conversion (19-7, 18 mins).

A penalty won by Rory Darge on the Irish 10-metre line, enabled Russell to boot Scotland to within seven metres. Inventively, Kinghorn, as front jumper, won the lineout, but Sheehan secured a priceless turnover for the hosts and, ultimately, Ireland cleared.

Sione Tuipulotu tried to spark the next Scotland attack and Russell’s kick had Tommy O’Brien scrambling, but a penalty against Zander Fagerson culled any momentum for the visitors.

Half-time: Ireland 19-7 Scotland

Graham tried to ignite Scotland as the second half developed and from a penalty under the sticks, Scotland again went through the phases with Ashman and Gilchrist prominent as willing carriers.

Rather as he had against Wales in Scotland’s fightback in Cardiff, Russell blazed through the smallest of gaps to score his 11^th try for Scotland and top the 500 point mark for his country into the bargain. He converted his own try (19-14, 53 mins).

Caelan Doris sparked Ireland’s riposte which ended with substitute Darragh Murray crashing over for Ireland’s bonus point try. Crowley converted (26-14, 54 mins).

Scotland, however, were not yet spent. Once again, the build-up was sustained and patient. Tuipulotu’s wide pass to Steyn was at its heart and Gilchrist gave the scoring pass to the rampaging Darge who touched down his seventh try for Scotland. Russell converted (26-21, 60 mins).

Bundee Aki was among a slew of replacements ,and he was integral as Ireland extinguished Scottish hopes with Tommy O’Brien released by Osborne for their fifth try. Crowley goaled (33-21, 68 mins).

Then a penalty by Crowley took Ireland beyond two converted tries (36-21, 72 mins).

Scotland sought to claim a bonus point of their own but a turnover by the persistent thorn in their side, Tadhg Beirne, close to his own goal-line, ended that hope.

And the game ended with O’Brien sprinting away from Tuipulotu for Ireland’s sixth try and his own second. Crowley converted and the Triple Crown was Ireland’s.  (43-21, 80 mins)

Full-time: Ireland 43-21 Scotland 

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Jos Van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain).

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher for Sheehan (65 mins), Michael Milne for O’Toole (65 mins), Finlay Bealham for Furlong (65 mins), Darragh Murray for Beirne (50 mins), Nick Timoney for Van der Flier (50 mins) , Craig Casey for Gibson-Park (77 mins), Ciaran Frawley for Balocoune (65 mins) Bundee Aki for Ringrose (65 mins).

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (captain), Kyle Steyn (all Glasgow Warriors); Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Ben White (Toulon); Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), George Turner (Harlequins), Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson (both Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey (all Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Turner, 17 mins), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors) (Schoeman, 68 mins), D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Z. Fagerson, 68 mins) Alex Craig (Glasgow Warriors) (for Williamson, 60 mins), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Dempsey, 60 mins), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) (for White, 60 mins), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors) (for Graham, 60 mins), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears) (for Rowe, 68 mins).

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia) and Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Foul Play Review Officer:  Ian Tempest (England)

Guinness Player of the Match: Caelan Doris (Ireland)

Attendance: 51,700