Here is Gerry Thornley’s match report:
That’s all from me, good night!
If you’d like to catch up, here’s the match highlights
Here’s Johnny Watterson’s player ratings. Seven eights and a nine, with the excellent Jamison Gibson-Park top of the charts.
“Ever-alert scrumhalf put himself about and did well to bring control in a messy first half. Chased down Kinghorn and then excellently chipped and chased in the second half. Rating: 9″
Read more here:
Simon Easterby on RTÉ:
“We had to work hard, we thought if we attacked the game the right way we would get our reward and we did. Defensively, we stopped them at source, we disrupted their delivery. With the ball, we executed the ball first half and took our chances second half.
On Prendergast: “He’s pretty good! He will take a lot of the performance today and grow from it.”
Caelan Doris:
“The bench have been unbelievable for us last few weeks, that’s been a credit to everyone the last few weeks. We’re in a good place, momentum is big in this competition. That’s been the message from day one. There are so many areas of improvement and we will be targeting that next few days.”
Sam Prendergast speaking on RTÉ: It was an unbelievable game and a savage atmosphere. I started unbelievably, we put so much pressure on. We did really well in the second half after they had their purple patch to get back, and we showed great character.
In terms of the distribution, the backs are world-class players so it makes my job look better.
More from Sam Prendergast on Johnny Sexton:
“He’s unreal, I didn’t get to experience much playing with him. It’s so good to chat to him, I think he’s done a lot for my kicking, the mentality of it.”
80 mins: Scotland turn it over for one last attack, but it’s sloppy and again it’s knocked on despite a nice dummy and carry by Schoeman.
Ireland keep playing and Henshaw kicks in behind but van der Merwe collects and that’s it!
Full-time: Scotland 18 Ireland 32
79 mins: A knock-on by Scotland with a minute and a bit left, that could be that. Sam Prendergast is named man of the match. Great performance by the young outhalf.
Scotland 18 Ireland 32
76 mins: Ireland finally give away a penalty and they kick to within five metres for the lineout. Quick lineout goes well.
TRY FOR SCOTLAND! Ben White makes a quick break and catches Ireland off guard, he did well to get it down. Kinghorn converts.
Scotland 18 Ireland 32
73 mins: Crisp passing from Scotland backs but Ireland refuse to budge or give them a break as they make limited ground.
Scotland 11 Ireland 32
70 mins: Penalty scored by Ireland! A brilliant kick from long-range, another great moment of a superb performance today. On comes Cian Healy.
Scotland 11 Ireland 32
64 mins: Interestingly Jack Crowley comes on but Prendergast stays on, Crowley going to fullback. Keenan goes to rightwing as Nash comes off.
Scotland 11 Ireland 29
Great 10-minute spell by Ireland to take the sting out of the Scotland team and crowd. Bonus point has been secured at Murrayfield.
61 mins: TRY FOR IRELAND! Jack Conan this time after a spell of Ireland possession a great kick by Gibson-Park catches Scotland out, nice bounce to Keenan who catches and Gibson-Park recycles to Conan who scores. Prendergast misses the conversion.
Scotland 11 Ireland 29
55 mins: Key scrum is solid, Prendergast with a looping pass for Keenan but a little too high and still five metres away. Gibson-Park recycles quickly and James Lowe is too strong!
TRY FOR IRELAND! James Lowe skips past Kinghorn and then gets it through three men holding him to put it down. Prendergast scores again with the conversion.
Scotland 11 Ireland 24
52 mins: Great piece of play by Gibson-Park after the ball falls nicely for Lowe from a high ball, ends up with a five-metre scrum. He kicks in behind and chases down Kinghorn and gets him down.
49 mins: Henshaw goes for an intercept and misses it and leaves a gap for Scotland backs to accelerate through. Great tackle by Gibson-Park on Kinghorn who was heading for the line. But Henshaw then knocks the ball on, TMO checks if it is an intentional one. Ref says no, but poor minute for the Leinster man.
Good scrum by Scotland and then they play to the backs, Dobie accelerates brilliantly and nearly gets it over. Ireland give away another penalty for offside.
Penalty scored by Scotland! Kinghorn taps over. Only six points in it.
Scotland 11 Ireland 17
46 mins: Ireland lose a lineout and then Prendergast nearly knocks a ball on as they get pushed closer to their own line. Gibson-Park clears and ends up with Scotland scrum as Lowe knocks it on.
Scotland 8 Ireland 17
43 mins: Penalty scored by Scotland! Bright start for Scotland as they put on the pressure on Ireland and force a penalty which Kinghorn scores.
Scotland 8 Ireland 17
Dan Sheehan is off the bench as the second half gets under way.
Half-time: Scotland 5 Ireland 17
Alright then, a superb performance by Ireland was blemished by losing a try in the last minute, but otherwise they can be very happy with their performance and how they stifled Scotland. More of the same should lead to a comfortable victory, but will that late try change the momentum?
40 mins: TRY FOR SCOTLAND! A big turnaround from the scrum! Ireland give away a penalty from the scrum with only seconds remaining, Scotland go quickly, McDowall with a top-class offload to van der Merwe who jumps in the air and gets the ball down spectacularly. What a try by Scotland and from nowhere they’re on the board. Kinghorn misses the conversion from near the sideline however.
Scotland 5 Ireland 17
39 mins: Poor lineout by Scotland and Ireland win it back immediately, Lowe clears. Scotland keep possession and ease up the pitch with some great carries and are rewarded with a penalty. Jordan kicks to touch back where they were a few minutes earlier.
This time it’s taken well by Fagerson, Scotland go for the maul. But again, Ireland turn it over! Beirne rock solid again in the ruck.
Scotland 0 Ireland 17
35 mins: Rare poor kick from Prendergast gives Scotland a lineout in a good area. But Scotland don’t make any significant ground in their first five phases. Ireland give away a penalty for offside, Aki at fault, but nearly turned it over again, great intensity by Ireland. Scotland kick to touch.
Scotland 0 Ireland 17
32 mins: Then the pressure pays off as McDowall slices a kick into touch. From the lineout, Ireland successfully take the ball and Prendergast is tackled but it’s a knock-on so scrum for Ireland.
Advantage for Ireland from the scrum and then Prendergast goes towards the line, he keeps it under pressure. Gibson-Park to Doris and TRY FOR IRELAND! Captain’s contribution, pure power over the line. Brilliant kick again to convert.
Scotland 0 Ireland 17
28 mins: Bundee Aki the latest man to pouring blood in this brutal match so far. Another big moment from Peter O’Mahony as he steals a ball, Prendergast dummies and then kicks far. Jordan is slow to clear and Nash blocks the ball down out for a lineout.
Again Ireland block the ball down, this time it’s Porter after Ben White’s kick. Scotland under the cosh.
Scotland 0 Ireland 10
24 mins: Penalty scored for Ireland! Prendergast scores well to continue his fine start to the game as van der Merwe comes back on.
Scotland 0 Ireland 10
On come Jamie Bodie and Stafford McDowall after those two injuries, big blow for Scotland, who are still down to 14 men. Graham looks badly injured, we hope he’s okay. The crowd gives him a round of applause as he’s stretchered off.
22 mins: Great block down by Sam Prendergast! He kicked in behind and then followed it up and follows Kinghorn with a Gaelic football style block. Nearly falls to Kelleher but Ireland win a penalty. Tap and go again but again there is a big hold up on the line by Scotland.
Then Ireland have another chance as Lowe on the wing holds off a few defenders, but ends up dropping the ball after a heavy tackle. Then an awful head collision between Russell and Graham when trying to prevent that one, they’ll have to get treatment.
Scotland 0 Ireland 7
19 mins: Better spell for Scotland as they turn the ball over and win a penalty, Russell kicks to touch in Ireland’s half. Their backs get a bit of ball but Ireland counter ruck is successfully and then clear it over halfway. Tadhg Beirne is back on after HIA.
Scotland 0 Ireland 7
15 mins: A lineout and then a maul by Ireland just lands short and it’s great defence by Scotland to turn the ball over. Missed opportunity for Ireland. Baird after coming on goes for a HIA, Conan on now.
Scotland 0 Ireland 7
Yellow card for Scotland! Van der Merwe penalised, Scotland give away a penalty five metres from the line. Lucky to avoid a penalty try.
Scotland 0 Ireland 7
14 mins: Scotland are struggling to deal with Ireland’s intensity so far, Ireland with all the territory as they get a lineout around halfway.
Ireland kick the ball behind and it’s a foot race between van der Merwe and Nash, it falls nicely for Nash and van der Merwe pushes him out of the way when he’s near the line. Will be a TMO check.
11 mins: Scotland give away fourth penalty of the game, Fagerson pushing Henshaw from the restart. Unforced error from the lineout as Kelleher’s long lineout leads to O’Mahony dropping the ball. Baird is on for Beirne as he gets a head injury assessment.
Scotland 0 Ireland 7
8 mins: TRY FOR IRELAND! Clean lineout for Ireland, Doris smashes through to two metres out. Scotland give away another penalty advantage, comes to Prendergast who plays a long looping pass to Calvin Nash to run over the line under no pressure! Fine conversion by Prendergast.
Scotland 0 Ireland 7
6 mins: Solid scrum in the middle of the pitch is the basis of an Irish attack. It end up with O’Mahony on the wing as backs and forwards combine well to reach the five-metre line. Advantage for Ireland for offside after Henshaw gets within a few metres. It goes wrong between Aki and Prendergast but back for the penalty.
Scotland 0 Ireland 0
3 mins: Some early kicking back and forth, not much ground made by either team, but Kinghorn does a bright kick and go and nearly makes a significant break through, but Ireland manage to stop him.
Scotland 0 Ireland 0
Time for the anthems! Here are the teams again:
Ireland team: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris. Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose
Scotland team: Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge (co-captain), Jack Dempsey. Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Sam Skinner, Gregor Brown, Jamie Ritchie, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall
Nathan Johns focuses on five ways where Ireland can expose Scotland, with a big focus on starving them of possession.
“Whether planned or otherwise, last year’s title-securing victory at the Aviva Stadium saw Ireland simply keep the ball away from Scotland. The possession stats read 59-41 per cent in favour of Ireland. Even that gap isn’t a true reflection, Ireland making 152 carries to Scotland’s 93.
“Gregor Townsend’s side still earned 251 metres after contact (compared to Ireland’s 283 from a significantly more carries), while the line-break count was even at four apiece. Scotland’s attack fired shots but not enough to get over the try-line until Huw Jones slipped a tackle for a late consolation score. Remarkably, in last year’s game, Ireland conceded 21 turnovers but still had such possession dominance, perhaps a poor reflection on Scotland’s own ball retention.”
[ Five areas where Ireland can expose Scotland’s weaknessesOpens in new window ]
Matt Williams writes that Scotland could beat Ireland if they do something haven’t done for years.
“Sunday’s result will hang on which Scotland team turns up. The group that won at Twickenham and Stade de France, or the mob who crumbled to a weak Wales.
“For both teams this is a championship-defining match. If Ireland can repeat their second-half performance from last week, then only France appear to have the firepower to hold them. Yet, if Scotland can put together 80 minutes of total concentration, which they have not done for many seasons, then they are capable of a historic victory.”
The Scottish team arrived to a bagpipe ceremony and some celebrity fans there to cheer their team on.
Fans are arriving for the game...
Here’s the view from Scotland about today’s game. Tom English from the BBC writes for the Irish Times and says that the Scots want to beat Ireland more than anything.
“Last year was tight, a four-point game in which Scotland gave Ireland a free seven when they botched a lineout and Dan Sheehan went over. You could argue that Ireland are inflicting this hurt on Scotland – and you’d be right – but the way they see it is that in many cases they are inflicting this hurt on themselves – and they’re also right.
“Scotland have had eight years of this. Eight years and 10 Tests full of every emotion bar joy and relief. They’ve had enough. If hunger won games they’d be hard to beat. On Gregor Townsend’s watch they won in Twickenham for the first time in 38 years and won in Paris and Cardiff for the first time in 22 years, but if they win on Sunday the celebrations might make those seismic days look like tea parties. If. Always if.”
[ More than any other nation in the world it’s Ireland that Scotland want to beatOpens in new window ]
Last night the Ireland under-20s made light work of Scotland to take their first Six Nations win of the season, aided by a Charlie Molony hat-trick in Edinburgh. Here’s the report:
[ Ireland U20’s make light work of Scotland to take opening Six Nations winOpens in new window ]
Some pre-game listening to enjoy:
How do Ireland avoid a Scottish banana skin?
Ireland have not lost to Scotland since 2017, but it seems every year since then the Scots feel closer and closer to ending their hoodoo. Will this year finally be their time? Nigel Carolan is an Irishman on the inside of Scottish rugby. Originally from Galway, he coached Ireland U20s before becoming Glasgow Warriors’ attack coach. Alongside Irish Times sportswriter John O’Sullivan, Carolan analyses how Ireland might stop Scotland’s backline. Gerry Thornley joins us later in the podcast to react to the surprise Ireland team selection, with Peter O’Mahony named to start as he resumes his rivalry with Scottish teams.Produced by John Casey.
Scotland’s desperation to end their losing run will put Ireland to the test, writes Gerry Thornley in his match preview. The green machine will need to concentrate and take chances against dangerous Scottish outfit.
“For Scottish rugby, 10 successive defeats to Ireland must stick in their craw. As kick-off nears at a long sold-out Murrayfield and Flower of Scotland reverberates around the ground, Ireland will not encounter a team more desperate and motivated to beat them now.”
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland’s clash against Scotland at Murrayfield in the second round of the Six Nations. Kick-off is at 3pm. With France losing to England in Twickenham last night, the door has opened for Ireland to press home their advantage in the tournament but it won’t be easy against a determined Scots who want to beat Ireland more than any nation in the world. Peter O’Mahony has returned to the fold with a place in the starting XV, he has beaten Scotland 12 times in his career and won’t be in the mood for changing that winning run. Calvin Nash comes in for Mack Hansen, who was a late withdrawal with injury.
Ireland team: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris. Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose
Scotland team: Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge (co-captain), Jack Dempsey. Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Sam Skinner, Gregor Brown, Jamie Ritchie, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall
