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Michael Wells emails: “Stricken though I was as an England fan after the expectation, this match showed me how far we were from being contenders, although we have so many talented players.
“Farrell A for England in future?”
Ha! England may have to prise him out of some rigid green fingers, Michael. But yes, Ireland’s head coach will probably find it easier than anyone else to support the nation he hails from this evening.
Wales v Italy is 20 minutes away from kick-off and it’s a terrifically intriguing game. The maestro, Lee Calvert, is doing live updates already – countdown to the start with him.
So, what do Ireland need this evening in Paris? Their bonus-point win means any England victory gives Ireland the Six Nations title; a France win obviously sees Les Bleus retain. A bonus-point draw still gives France the title – but a tied game with no try bonus does not. It’s not going to be a draw though, is it. Is it?
“Is that a first? No TMO involvement today,” says Paul Butler via email. “Respect to both teams for a fantastic game. Delighted for my team, Ireland. But Scotland ... they are so dangerous.”
Yes Paul. A well-officiated game is where you don’t have to talk about the referee and the decisions – but credit to both teams, largely, who kept it tough but clean and didn’t kick up a fuss at any point.
Brian O’Driscoll thinks that was the best display of Ireland’s Six Nations, above the victory at Twickenham. “Better opposition,” he assesses. Oof.
“It isn’t a 43–21 game – it was right in the balance, nip and tuck, Ireland had a few blowout tries at the end to give the score [that lopsided view]. Scotland should be very proud.”
Caelan Doris jokes that it’s “a rare day” when an Irishman is cheering on England, but he won’t be alone later.
The captain runs off to lift Ireland’s 15th triple crown trophy.
Star performer? Tommy O’Brien and Rob Baloucoune were wing superstars. Jamison Gibson-Park was everywhere. Tadhg Beirne, however – simply immense.
A word for Jack Crowley, too. Wasn’t his kicking supposed to be a weakness? Not a bit of it.
And exhale. There were times – at the start of the first half and then a bit further into the second half – where that was a real see-saw slugfest of attacking rugby. Scotland showed their skill. But Ireland were equal to it with some scintillating rugby of their own.
Around that, in the areas where we expected Ireland to be better, they were. Tenacious in defence. Dominant in the lineout. Scotland closed the gap, but Ireland just stretched it again – and in the finish they romped for the line. A 22-point margin.
FULL TIME: Ireland 43-21 Scotland
Ireland claim the triple crown as they race away from Scotland at the end – the vintage green machine in action today.
TRY! Ireland 43-21 Scotland (O'Brien)
Russell’s pass to Tuipulotu but Scotland’s captain fumbles the ball, Ireland pounce – McCloskey’s perfect pass puts in O’Brien, who races over. His second try of the afternoon.
79 min: Scotland have the ball but it’s too late now, the crowd are in fine voice in Dublin. And now Ireland win possession and break …!
77 min: Ireland’s lineout, the crowd are in party mode now. Gibson-Park goes off – terrific today.
75 min: Ireland fan out, defending with their heads as well as their hearts: nothing silly, grinding the clock down as much as anything. And they hold out! They celebrate like a try as Beirne gets his hands on the ball and the hosts earn a penalty.
74 min: Scotland rumble forward. They try to pick a hole in the Irish defence. They edge to the line. So far, so green …
PENALTY! Ireland 36-21 Scotland (Crowley)
No mistake: Jack Crowley deadeyes though the middle of the posts. Now Scotland need three scores – AKA a miracle.
72 min: An Ireland penalty – and now some sensible game management. Jack Crowley will look to kick the three.
70 min: An Ireland penalty, Kyle Steyn catching Crowley. The clock is against Scotland now. And Ireland look to attack.
TRY! Ireland 33-21 Scotland (O'Brien)
Tommy O’Brien finds a hole in the Scottish defence and does exactly what you’d expect, sprinting over. Sublime Ciarán Frawley pass to open that one up, after a powerful Aki run. Crowley’s reliable boot adds the two points.
66 min: Ireland have an all-new front row, but it’s the irreplaceable Gibson-Park who kicks to test Scotland. Russell returns fire, Ireland catch it. To and fro at the moment.
64 min: Nick Timoney, on for Van der Flier, carries the ball forwards. And now the changes are being rung by Andy Farrell. A load of them – including Bundee Aki. His first appearance in this Six Nations.
63 min: Scotland’s scrum inside their own half. Can they come away with the ball? They can. The kick forward lands in Irish hands, however.
62 min: Of course Ireland are back on the attack – this is an absolute slugfest, each side taking turns to wallop the other. But this time it’s Scotland who get the turnover!
TRY! Ireland 26-21 Scotland (Darge)
Scotland’s best try yet! This is some game – Grant Gilchrist with the mesmeric run and pass, and Rory Darge does the rest, sprinting over. Liquid rugby. Russell, again, is perfect from the tee.
58 min: More end-to-end rugby, Scotland are flinging the ball around, trying to find space! And they are testing Ireland – Russell is making it happen. Williamson has it. Kinghorn. Can Ireland shut them down?
TRY! Ireland 26-14 Scotland (Murray)
Darragh Murray - the new arrival – is the man who charges over the line, breaking the Scotland defence. Note: I just referred to him as “the replacement” earlier when he came on for Beirne … and he took that personally. Sorry, Darragh. Crowley: converts. Bonus point: earned.
55 min: Up to phase 13 as Ireland edge towards Scotland’s tryline, Gibson-Park the orchestrator. Is it going over?
54 min: Can Ireland respond? They attack for the first time in this half. They’re making gains as they show off their own passing game.
TRY! Ireland 19-14 Scotland (Russell)
An ice-cool Scotland move – they work it to Ben White, his sneaky pass finds Russell and he shows some snake hips, a dummy, dives over. Then Finn kicks the extras. Some player. A five-point game!
51 min: Scotland look to muscle through the Irish line: Ashman, Tuipulotu … can they force it over?
50 min: Beirne has taken an accidental kick to the face and is bleeding. He’s off, the replacement is on – Scotland tap and go. They’re right on the Irish tryline here.
48 min: A penalty for Scotland – they kick for the corner. Now, can they pierce the Irish defence? They pass the ball around, showing patience.
47 min: Scotland and Ireland exchange possession untidily – until a lovely little run by Darcy Graham, showing dancers feet to spin past some Irish shirts.
45 min: We’re up to phase 12 … but Ireland grab it back! Tadhg Beirne, not for the first time, rips the ball back.
44 min: Scotland get their passing game going, now they’re moving it around a bit faster. Can they work an opening?
42 min: Ireland’s scrum inside Scotland’s half, Gibson-Park with ball in hand – we saw plenty of that in the first half. He gets them on their way again, but a handling error by Ireland. Doris let’s it go. It gets a bit fiesty, some hearty shoves. Russell kicks to touch.
Second half
Finn Russell puts boot to ball, Ireland receive it. We’re off again.
So the big stat ITV conjure up is that Ireland are undefeated in their last 30 Six Nations matches at home when leading at the break. Can Scotland defy history? The teams run back on to the pitch – a quick blast of Daft Punk.
Scotland need to cut out the mistakes in the second half, that’s a given. Too many turnovers. The visitors must make more of the ball when they do get it.
For Ireland? More of the same, but they will want to make their pressure count. This is still just a 12-point game as it stands. That, you don’t need me to tell you, is a far from insurmountable lead.
So is it after the lord mayor’s show for Scotland following that epic display against France? Impossible to reach the same levels again?
Maybe, but I don’t think that gives enough credit to Ireland’s performance in the first 40 mins. They didn’t just overpower Scotland, they outplayed them, too.
The passing for Scotland’s try was a delight but the move to put in Rob Baloucoune to dive over for try No 3 was equally breathless stuff.
HALF-TIME: Ireland 19-7 Scotland
A green mountain for Scotland to climb in the second half. The whistle goes with the hosts largely in control.
39 min: Huw Jones’s short Russell goes awry, Sione Tuipulotu knocks it forward. Those little things are just going wrong for Scotland right now; they were going so right against France.
38 min: An Irish knock-on relieves the pressure. Scotland’s scrum just inside their own half.
37 min: Ewan Ashman is down for treatment. He’s a replacement himself, of course … but he’s OK to play on. Ireland’s ball. Scotland will want to get to half-time now.
36 min: A Grant Gilchrist hand stops a Tadhg Furlong pass. Ireland’s lineout. Stuart McCloskey breaks through the Scotland' ranks, he’s been a real threat.
34 min: Ireland spread play from the scrum but it breaks free, a handling error and Scotland look to pounce – Kinghorn is almost through with nothing between him and the tryline! Josh van der Flier is there, however, to make a big last-ditch tackle.
33 min: Kinghorn wins possession back and Scotland look to spread play – but a forward pass from Jack Dempsey undoes their passing game before it can really get started. Just not clicking at the moment for Scotland.
30 min: Scotland’s turn to attack, but Ireland’s defence is looking solid. The hosts win the penalty and Tadhg Beirne and Furlong grin in unison. They’re loving this.
