Thanks for joining me for this afternoon’s game.
Here is the report from Murrayfield:
Updated
Match report
A quick word from Joe Schmidt, who hails “a massive defensive effort”. He adds that Sexton failed a head injury assessment after a “stamp”, but he doesn’t expect it to be long-term. Schmidt doesn’t criticise the Scottish efforts to target his fly-half, and brushes off suggestions that O’Mahony illegally tackled Hogg. “We didn’t hear anything from the officials”. He praises Carbery too - “he’s growing in confidence”.
That result means only two teams can still win the grand slam - England and Wales. Which brings us to Saturday’s second game, with Warren Gatland’s mob in action against Italy. Join me for that, right about now. We’ll have a match report online very soon.
And Greig Laidlaw, who has some strong words for Romain Poite. “We’re disappointed. Handling errors cost us, but the referee doesn’t seem to like us. We’re not going to blame him, though. Ireland took their opportunities.”
There were some controversial moments, not least the tackle by Peter O’Mahony that led to Stuart Hogg’s shoulder injury. Scotland played their part too, with some hefty challenges on Johnny Sexton, who was also forced off.
Ireland may have won, but Liam Murray isn’t happy: “That was dire. We’ve struggled to beat the 5th best team in the competition, displaying a complete lack of imagination, subtlety and inventiveness.”
Updated
Here’s Rory Best: “We have a lot of belief in what we’re doing ... it was tough mentally in the build-up, but we asked for a reaction and we got it. It wasn’t the most spectacular game, we had a couple of chances and we took them.
“We had to wear them down, we fronted up to their attack. Joey [Carbery] is a quality player, you don’t want to see anyone go off injured, but it’s great to see everyone coming off the bench and stepping up.”
Updated
We saw glimpses of the Green Machine there, Ireland wily and disciplined at the breakdown, and at set-pieces, and keeping Scotland at arms’ length thanks to Keith Earls’ try. It feels like a big opportunity missed for the hosts, who wilted under the pressure, making too many mistakes and failing to capitalise when they were on top.
Full time! Scotland 13-22 Ireland
Scotland’s final attack ends with - you guessed it - a knock on, and Ireland have ground out the win!
79 mins: Peter O’Mahony is named man of the match - probably deserved, edging out Sean O’Brien, Best and the impressive Carbery, who came off the bench.
78 mins: John Cooney is on for Conor Murray, who was much improved from his display in Dublin. Another fitful Scottish attack peters out at the halfway line, and time is almost up.
77 mins: A rare Scottish penalty, in their own half. Finn Russell kicks for touch - but Ireland take the lineout ball, Dillane the man in the right place again. What a frustrating second half for Scotland.
76 mins: Scotland snatch possession, but try to force the pass and Fraser Brown knocks on. Another handling error as Scotland are forced to try and up the tempo.
75 mins: Carbery, whose mistake led to Scotland’s try, has been the standout player in the second half. His tackle stops the hosts’ next attacking foray, before Ritchie knocks on, to groans from the Murrayfield faithful.
74 mins: Scotland try to disrupt the Irish lineout, but they get a predictable amount of joy. Ultan Dillane climbs highest to claim it.
73 mins: Kinghorn’s kick downfield sets up an Irish lineout close to their own try line. Before it’s taken, a short break in play as Huw Jones receives treatment. He looks OK to continue with his knee strapped up.
71 mins: Jordan Larmour, who struggled to make any impact against England, is on for Jacob Stockdale. Sean Cronin, his Leinster teammate, replaces the captain, Rory Best.
69 mins: Changes galore. For Scotland, Fraser Brown, Ali Price and Peter Horne are on, replacing McInally, Laidlaw and Johnson. For Ireland, Andrew Porter replaces Furlong, and Ultan Dillane and Josh van der Flier are also on. Quinn Roux and Sean O’Brien go off.
Scotland 13-22 Ireland (Carbery pen 68')
Carbery lands the kick, and Ireland have a useful cushion going into the final stages.
67 mins: After 27 brutal phases, Strauss is penalised. Carbery uses the advantage to try an ambitious kick through, but Ireland will come back for the kick at goal.
65 mins: Ireland trying to slow things down, and make this attack count. Kilcoyne tries to barrel through the Scottish defence, but they hold firm. Keith Earls comes infield to carry Ireland over the 22...
64 mins: An unfortunate moment for young Kinghorn, who spills an attempted catch in midfield. That’s the first mistake he’s made. Ireland will have the scrum...
Scotland 13-19 Ireland (Laidlaw pen)
That could be a big three points, Laidlaw landing the penalty in testing conditions. He’s up to 666 international points, one behind Gavin Hastings in the all-time standings.
62 mins: Scotland turn the ball over deep in Irish territory, and the over-eager Bundee Aki concedes a penalty. Laidlaw opts to kick for goal from an acute angle...
60 mins: Another knock-on for Scotland, who are in the process of beating themselves.
Scotland 10-19 Ireland (Carbery conversion)
The Munster man adds the conversion after a try he created. Dave Kilcoyne comes on for Ireland, replacing Healy.
Rob Kearney, quiet thus far, shows a turn of pace to break through the Scottish defence. Seymour brings him down, but as Scotland try to regroup, Carbery powers through two tackles, skips downfield and loops a terrific pass out wide to Keith Earls.
Updated
TRY! Scotland 10-17 Ireland (Earls 55')
And just like that, Ireland find their attacking mojo and punish them.
54 mins: Ack, that promising position is surrendered as Harley knocks on. Scotland have been on top, by and large, since Sam Johnson’s score 28 minutes in - but they’ve got nothing to show for it.
52 mins: McInally takes care of business again, ripping the ball away from Tadhg Furlong. Blair Kinghorn wallops a kick downfield, and although Kearney kicks for touch, that’s a big territorial swing for Scotland.
50 mins: Make that seven, as from the scrum, Cian Healy knocks on and has a stern word with himself. It’s become a bit scrappy after that dramatic first half.
49 mins: Scotland’s progress downfield is stopped by an unlucky Strauss knock-on. He’s not happy with the referee, but rules are rules. Handling errors creeping up for Scotland - they have 10 to Ireland’s six.
48 mins: Best delivers the lineout, Ireland win it and start an ominous drive for the line. Scotland hold on through 10 phases, and a loose pass puts Earls on the back foot. Stuart McInally stops him in his tracks, the momentum shifts, and Ireland are penalised. More sterling defensive work, this time from the hosts.
45 mins: Ireland enjoy a spell of possession, and Rob Harley is penalised for a high tackle. Ireland can’t make use of the advantage, but Carbery kicks for the corner...
42 mins: Scottish scrum on the halfway line, and Laidlaw starts a passing move out wide - but Gray concedes a cheap penalty, taking Sean O’Brien out needlessly.
Here we go again
Joey Carbery kicks off the second half - no sign of Johnny Sexton. Ritchie is back for Scotland, but Rob Harley stays out there, with Ryan Wilson taken off.
Updated
Here’s our new Six Nations columnist, Ugo Monye, with a look ahead to England v France tomorrow:
We’ve just seen a clip of Stuart Hogg reacting to that late missed chance on the touchline. He got himself in a right old funk, booting a hole in an advertising hoarding before storming down the tunnel.
Half-time reading
Half time: Scotland 10-12 Ireland
That first half had pretty much everything - flowing attacking moves, ferocious defence and individual errors that have been ruthlessly punished. Scotland have dominated territory, and end on the front foot, but it’s Ireland who have a narrow lead. Don’t go anywhere.
39 mins: The Irish defence holds on through 20 phases, but as play shifts back to the right, there’s room for Seymour - but Jones’ pass is just behind him, and Stockdale holds him up a metre out. A Scottish knock-on follows, and Ireland hold firm! An incredible defensive effort.
38 mins: Scotland frantically searching for the go-ahead score, and get an advantage for an Irish knock-on. They keep scrambling for the line - the advantage goes untaken - but look for space on the far side...
35 mins: A moment to sum up this helter-skelter first half, as a loose ball bounces off the corner flag, and Best dives in to stop Scotland snatching a bizarre second try. Scotland will have a scrum, five metres out. Rob Harley is on for Ritchie, who has a nasty cut above his eye.
34 mins: More inventive attacking play from the Scottish backs, before Seymour’s kick down the line is dealt with by Keith Earls. No official word on whether Sexton is returning; he was targeted by Scotland, Dell and Wilson landing huge hits on him before he went off.
32 mins: Stockdale looks isolated underneath a kick downfield, with Huw Jones bearing down on him - but keeps his cool to clear away.
Scotland 10-12 Ireland (Laidlaw conversion)
A terrific conversion from Greig Laidlaw, who sneaks his effort inside the far post in swirling winds. It’s back on now!
TRY! Scotland 8-12 Ireland (Johnson 28')
Scotland get the try they deserve! Laidlaw’s kick is almost claimed by Seymour, but Ireland get an advantage for the knock-on. They don’t use it, and Carbery’s pass is intercepted cleanly by Finn Russell. The fly-half looks bound to score, but hesitates and is caught by Earls. No matter - he finds Sam Johnson who touches down instead.
Updated
26 mins: O’Mahony shows he can do it all, sending a fine grubber kick down the touchline with the outside of his boot. Silky stuff, from which Scotland win a lineout under pressure...
25 mins: O’Mahony, at his dominant best so far, strips the ball from Scottish hands. The counter-attack breaks down, but Ireland have a scrum, from which Jack Conan leads them to the halfway line...
24 mins: Sexton is off, replaced by Carbery - a blood replacement, for the time being at least. Hogg hasn’t been missed by Scotland so far, mainly because Kinghorn has been excellent.
22 mins: Ritchie snatches the ball from an Aki knock-on, and Scotland can counter here. Kinghorn finds Seymour, who goes for the corner but runs out of room. His attempted pass run loose, and Sam Johnson tries to pin the ball against the corner flag. The play will be reviewed, and the TMO quickly establishes there was a forward pass early on.
Updated
20 mins: Ireland dominate the scrum and get a penalty. Sexton kicks for touch, but he may be nursing a groin injury. Hogg won’t be returning - he has a shoulder problem, and is looking forlorn on the Scottish bench. It came from a late tackle by Peter O’Mahony, but the officials took no action against the Irish flanker.
Updated
18 mins: Scotland look to respond immediately and Kinghorn breaks downfield. They get to within five metres, and win a penalty, which is taken quickly. Scotland try to set up a maul, but there’s a knock on. Ireland celebrate gleefully, and Romain Poite has to cool everyone down. This has been a terrific start.
TRY! Scotland 3-12 Ireland (Stockdale 16')
This is much more like it from Ireland. From a ruck, O’Mahony and Sexton combine to create space for Jacob Stockdale, who bursts through midfield and sprints downfield to score. Murray, not Sexton, lands the conversion.
Updated
15 mins: Hogg claims Sexton’s kick downfield, and clears to touch - but he doesn’t look comfortable, and is going to have to come off! The aforementioned Blair Kinghorn replaces him.
13 mins: Ireland looked nervous early on, but a couple of individual errors have let them back into the game. Now they’re on the front foot, Seymour forced to scamper back and deal with Farrell’s dangerous kick through. Ireland have an attacking lineout...
Missed conversion! A short delay as Sexton gets treatment from the physio. Murray prepares to take the kick instead, but Sexton gets up - and skews it wide!
TRY! Scotland 3-5 Ireland (Murray 10')
Ireland regain possession and Stockdale sends a kick down the left touchline. Under pressure from Farrell, Seymour throws a poor pass towards Maitland, who can’t hold it - and Conor Murray is on hand to score a simple try!
Updated
9 mins: That strong start is undone somewhat by Huw Jones, who spills Sexton’s restart kick into touch. Ireland scrum on the Scottish 22, but they can’t make inroads and lose patience - and Scotland turn it over!
Scotland 3-0 Ireland (Laidlaw penalty 7')
Laidlaw takes the three points, and the hosts lead after an encouraging start.
5 mins: Hogg kicks it to the corner, and Scotland win the lineout and barrel for the line. Ireland hold firm but Aki is penalised for using his hands in the ruck. Laidlaw’s grubber kick is collected by Kearney, but they’ll have a simple penalty chance.
3 mins: Scotland can come again, and sweep the ball from left to right, and back again, where Hogg breaks through a tackle. Advantage for the hosts - a high tackle on Ryan Wilson from Sexton. Scotland have numbers over on the far side but can’t put Strauss through, and they come back for the penalty...
1 min: Hogg collects Murray’s box-kick and Scotland try to put immediate pressure on. Ireland win a lineout, but Murray’s second box kick is held up in the wind...
Here we go!
Stuart Hogg hoofs his opening drop-kick high into the air, and we’re off!
The anthems ring out - ‘Ireland’s Call’ followed by ‘Flower of Scotland’. A stirring double-header, if ever I heard one. It’s on!
Edinburgh’s Blair Kinghorn is on the bench today after scoring three tries against Italy last weekend. I understand that his replacement, Sean Maitland, is first-choice, but should you ever drop a player after they score a hat-trick? Your thoughts welcome.
“Ireland will be like a wounded buffalo, nostrils flared” says Alan Partridg John Inverdale.
Gregor Townsend’s pre-match comments can be filed under ‘bullish’:
“We know Ireland are going to play well. They’re champions, they’re a very good team. I thought England tactically played very well, but they’re a different team to us. I’m confident we can beat anyone in the world when we’re at our best.”
Updated
Joe Schmidt has a chat with the BBC, and bristles at suggestions that Ireland were comprehensively beaten by England:
“We were maybe a little bit underdone, we don’t always start the Six Nations particularly well. I wouldn’t say it was necessarily comprehensive, but we did get beaten and got beaten up.
“Scotland are a better team than they were when we lost here [in 2017]. They’ve got width across the park, and plenty in the engine room – it’s going to be a massive challenge.”
Schmidt also names no less than seven Scottish players who offer a threat, in a Bielsa-esque summary of today’s opponents.
The recent beef between these two sides perhaps stems from a strange incident back in 2007, when Eddie O’Sullivan accused a Scottish player of trying to choke Ronan O’Gara. The former Ireland fly-half fanned the flames before Scotland’s win in 2017, saying on live TV that the hosts were “too mouthy”.
There’s also been plenty of needle in club matches between Glasgow and Munster, with Conor Murray accusing Josh Strauss and Jonny Gray of cynical challenges in a Champions Cup game. All three men start today, and there are 19 players in total from those two regions.
Pre-match reading
Preamble
When you’re on top of the world, it’s a long way down. Ireland may have been tempted before their opener with England to look beyond the Six Nations, to arriving in Japan as the kings of the north. Instead, they head to Scotland under unexpected pressure after a comprehensive defeat in Dublin.
Joe Schmidt’s side can expect another bruising encounter today. These two sides have a spiky recent history, with bad blood in club and international contests, and even a row over a delayed bus journey when Ireland last visited Murrayfield.
That was two years ago, when Scotland shattered the visitors’ grand slam hopes. A similar result again today would leave the hosts eyeing up a title tilt of their own, but Ireland will be desperate to avenge the damage done to their reputation both here in 2017, and in Dublin last Saturday.
Updated
The teams
Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (c); Allan Dell, Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan; Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray; Ryan Wilson, Jamie Ritchie, Josh Strauss.
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D’arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Peter Horne, Blair Kinghorn.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best (c), Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Sean O’Brien, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour.
Updated
