And that will be all from me. Well done Ireland. Thanks for reading today. See you next time.
Michael Aylwin’s match report is here
All too familiar. Scotland, as ever, dangerous when expectation is low, frustrated time and again when it creeps up high. For all the excitement of London in round one, there Scotland reside, in that little niche of theirs just above Italy.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell speaks: “To hold them out like we was doing for so long ... and they get the try ... to have the composure and the reset mindset to go again, and come up with a special play from young Ryan [Baird], the blockage, get the turnover ball, and kick the goal ... it was messy at times, but to take the win here by three points, we’ll certainly take that.”
Those silky first-half sidesteps from the Ireland prop, Tadhg Furlong:
Show me you can move, without showing me you can move#SCOvIRL #IREvSCO #6Nations
— ruthyG (@AgEisteacht1) March 14, 2021
pic.twitter.com/vW5dZc8xWM
Scotland captain Stuart Hogg talks to the BBC: “Johnny Sexton and the Irish boys were outstanding for 80 minutes and they fully deserved their win ... the frustrating thing for us is giving them 24 points in the first place. Credit to Ireland, they took their opportunities ... but we kind of killed ourselves at times.”
Hard to argue with that, as for Scotland’s moments of indiscipline.
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What was going through Johnny Sexton’s mind as he stood over that late penalty? “Just try and stick to your process,” he says. “It was tough enough in here today, with a swirling wind, so just pick your line and try and bang it for the left post, try to keep it a little bit lower. I got a little bit lucky, to be honest - it wasn’t my best strike of the day but it got there, thankfully.”
It did indeed. That was world-class by Sexton.
“What are my aspirations? Keep on winning, hopefully ... I’ll see how I feel this time next year. I’m really enjoying my rugby, I’m enjoying the coaching in the Irish set-up and at Leinster. I am excited to go to training every day.”
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The Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne speaks to the BBC: “It was a bit strange. We felt like we had control ... but Scotland just managed to keep in there ... at the end I was just crossing the fingers and hoping the lads could pull it off. It’s huge, we feel like we are building on something, and getting a win for us today is massive going forward. England dug deep and won against France ... it’ll be a physical game against them.”
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Full-time! Scotland 24-27 Ireland
Ireland win! Heartbreak for Scotland, who battled back into that match in impressive style from 14 points down. But Ireland just had too much in the end - they had the composure and the desire to close it out. Scotland’s lineout malfunctioned badly, particularly in the first half, and that factor alone has probably cost them the match. It was a very, very physical encounter and Ireland’s muscle threatened at one point to overwhelm Gregor Townsend’s men. But in the end there was only a penalty between the sides - a superb effort by Johnny Sexton who held his nerve and kicked his side to a win that sends them second in the Six Nations table.
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79 min: Scotland have the ball, but Ireland are holding firm in defence and the clock is red.
Penalty! 78 min: Scotland 24-27 Ireland (Sexton)
Nerves of steel, Ireland back in front. A fantastic strike by the Ireland fly-half, which fades at just the right time, left to right, and sails through the posts. Scotland worked so hard to get back level but now they have fallen behind again.
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75 min: The Scotland scrum-half Ali Price immediately gives up a penalty after the restart - his kick is charged down by Ryan Baird, and the scrum-half is pulled up for holding on to the ball. What will Ireland do ...? They will kick for goal. It’s a tough kick for Sexton from out on the touch line, on the left wing as Ireland are attacking.
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74 min: Try! Scotland 24-24 Ireland (Watson)
Stunning stuff from Scotland. What character they have shown to fight back into this match. Hogg converts. Scotland passed up two chances to kick for the posts and decided to run the ball instead. Lovely stuff.
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72 min: Scotland are nearly over in the corner! But a stunning bit of defensive work by the Ireland No 7 Will Connors keeps them out. Van der Merwe can’t get the ball down but manages to recycle it and Scotland come again ... and they claim the try! The TMO will check it. It was Hamish Watson who looked to have touched down ...
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70 min: There is space for Scotland now and they are asking real questions of the Irish defence as they spend some time in their 22. It looked like Ireland’s power was going to bring them a comfortable win but Scotland have fought back into this match incredibly well. Now Hogg puts a crosskick up, it’s overhit, but it was a shot to nothing on a penalty advantage. Ryan Baird on for Ireland. Another penalty comes for Scotland. Roman Poite has a word with Sexton about his side’s discipline and hints there will be a yellow card soon.
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68 min: Scotland stream forward off first-phase ball, down the left wing, after that scrum. Henshaw smashes Van der Merwe into touch and give him a few verbals afterwards. On commentary, Heaslip reckons it was a poor option by Van der Merwe to allow himself to be pushed into touch. That was a great opportunity for Scotland and they need to be more clinical.
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64 min: The forwards Conan and Kelleher now come on for Ireland as Farrell seeks to turn the screw up front. Ireland attack and CJ Stander gets his hands on the ball in a bit of space. Ireland are driven back by some impressive Scottish tackling, and choose to try and double up in contact, smashing into the defensive line, which is holding firm. James Lowe then gets a pass horribly wrong, off his right hand, out on the wing. This match could still go either way - Ireland will be furious if they let it slip, but Scotland have fought their way back very well. Cummings of Scotland goes off with a nasty-looking arm injury. Scotland have a scrum, in their own half.
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62 min: Recent changes for Scotland below with Jones, Gilchrist and Berghan coming on. Meanwhile Finn Russell has just come off - I think for an HIA.
57' | Huw Jones replaces Chris Harris, Grant Gilchrist comes on for Jonny Gray and Simon Berghan is on for WP Nel.
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 14, 2021
[10-24]
#SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/Xti6PCmXFn
60 min: Try! Scotland 17-24 Ireland (Huw Jones)
Hello! A fantastic try by Huw Jones, who has just come on, and we have a game on. Scotland attack down the right wing and Jones saunters through the Irish defensive cover and storms over having been found by Hogg. Hogg converts. They are within a converted score now and that is exactly what this match needed - if you are a neutral, of course ...
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56 min: The Scotland fly-half Russell tries a touch-finder which is initially adjudged to have gone out on the full, but the referee Poite changes the decision presumably on the advice of the TMO, and it’s a lineout instead. Scotland need to find a foothold of some sort, but at the moment Ireland have their foots on Scottish throats. Russell then does send a kick for touch straight out, an unforced error when his team need him to be on the money. Warren Gatland, in the stand, looks a bit unimpressed.
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55 min: Penalty! Scotland 10-24 Ireland (Sexton)
The Irish fly-half cracks another kick through the middle after Ritchie is penalised for not rolling away at a ruck, and Ireland are dominant right now.
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48 min: Try! Scotland 10-21 Ireland (Beirne)
Impressive power and precision from Ireland, who work the ball through several muscular phases off the lineout, and they are over near the posts. The replays are inconclusive after Beirne flops over, but Poite says he saw the ball on the ground. Sexton converts and this is now threatening to run away from Scotland.
Try for Ireland from @longdogbeirne - Scotland 10-19 Ireland #ShoulderToShoulder #TeamofUs #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/HWbBGaNcPY
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 14, 2021
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46 min: Scotland try to run the ball out of defence but Ritchie is penalised for not releasing. Sexton will kick for the corner. The players look exhausted. Now Cummings is pinged at the lineout, for Scotland, and Ireland kick another penalty for the corner. They are looking to grind Scotland down here.
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44 min: Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie wins a breakdown penalty from Romain Poite in midfield. That probably could have gone either way. Scotland kick for touch into the Irish half. It’s been a bruising start to the second half, and if anything, the intensity seems to have increased since the first half. The collisions are huge.
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42 min: Scotland attack, but Gray is penalised and Ireland can kick for touch in Scottish territory.
Second half kick-off!
Finn Russell restarts the fun. A very significant 40 minutes coming up for both these sides. Eddie Butler, on the mic for the BBC, pays tribute to Murray Walker, the wonderful Formula One commentator who passed away yesterday. Well said.
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Half-time! Scotland 10-14 Ireland
That was stirring stuff. Ireland roared into the match and achieved ascendancy for the first 20 minutes, with Henshaw scoring a try after an excellent, searching crosskick by Sexton that was patted back by Earls. Scotland hit back with a slice of luck for Hogg, with Russell touching down for a slightly freakish score after a couple of improvisational kicks into space, one of which bounced off Lowe and into Russell’s hands. Scotland’s lineout has been poor and if they are going to win this, they need to put that right. All to play for in the second half.
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40 min: Penalty! Scotland 10-14 Ireland (Sexton)
Sexton slots it.
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40 min: Ali Price is penalised for offside, and Ireland will kick for the posts with the clock in the red.
39 min: Lowe kicks long back into Scotland territory. Hogg collects, Russell then has space in midfield, and sees a chance to kick for Van der Merwe in lots of space out on the left wing. Van der Merwe and Ireland’s Earls both jump for it, but neither can collect. Had either of them done so, it was probably a try, either a freak one for Ireland or a high-risk score for Scotland. That’s the X-factor that Russell brings. But Ireland remain narrowly ahead.
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38 min: Now Ireland concede a penalty at a lineout, and it’s a golden chance for Scotland to get back in front. It’s not the easiest kick, from an angle and quite a way outside the Irish 22, but Russell gets it totally wrong and Ireland stay one point in front.
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35 min: Penalty! Scotland 10-11 Ireland (Sexton)
The visitors are back in front after Sexton converts a penalty following some fine work by Tadhg Beirne. That all followed another horrible lineout effort by Scotland. After the restart, Ireland win another penalty after Keith Earls gets involved at the tackle area.
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33 min: Russell touches down for that slightly fortunate try by Scotland:
📸 Try time, @finn_russell 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Sytnwt0aUI
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 14, 2021
31 min: Scotland are ahead on the scoreboard, and now they win a scrum penalty too, much to the delight of the home forwards. That’s a big statement and Scotland have wrestled back some measure of control having been on the back foot for the first 20 minutes.
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Try! 28 min: Scotland 10-8 Ireland (Russell)
Was there a knock on by Hogg in the buildup? The Scotland captain sprints into space down the left after charging down a kick by Ringrose, and soon spills the ball after fly-kicking it. It looks like a knock-on. Hogg kicks the ball nearly under the posts, after which Russell runs on to it and kicks it on to Lowe, who is trying to deal with it for Ireland. But it sits up perfectly for Russell to catch and touch down! TMO is checking it ... and remarkably, on replay, it’s clear the ball bounced up on to Hogg’s chin, and did not touch his hands, and therefore no knock-on. Russell converts. A slice of luck for Scotland, but you make your luck, and you can argue Ireland had plenty of luck with their try as well.
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25 min: Russell caresses a lovely kick from hand out to the right for Maitland to collect on the wing. That gives Scotland the go-forward to attack - and they make inroads by switching the ball left - but then Sutherland knocks on. Furlong, the prop, remarkably grabs the ball and pulls off a twinkle-toed sidestep (two, in fact) which have the commentators gasping in admiration.
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24 min: Scotland need to sort out their lineout. They’ve had one stolen and messed one up themselves in the past five or 10 minutes.
22 min: An Irish move breaks down on the left, and a siege-gun long kick from Russell into space sends Ireland right back on their heels. Keenan, the Ireland full-back, gets the ball into touch, and Scotland have a handy bit of field position having been pushed back in defence for much of this match so far.
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21 min: Stuart Hogg has a long chat with the referee, about what’s going on at ruck time. His calmness and composure is noticeable as he tries to make his point to Romain Poite.
19 min: Scotland look a little rattled by Ireland’s power and precision. If the expected script was that the Irish would dominate physically, that’s been the story so far. Ireland rumble a rolling maul towards the Scottish line and Gibson-Park has a dart towards the line ... but Scotland win a penalty! Hamish Watson got stuck in and forced a precious penalty by competing for the ball at the breakdown after Gibson-Park was tackled.
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17 min: Ireland win a penalty at a scrum after Healy gets on top of his opposite number in the front row. Ireland’s superior muscle up front starting to show a little there. But Scotland have looked dangerous every time they have had the ball. Both teams are trying to play some progressive rugby, which is good to see.
13 min: Space in attack for Scotland’s Russell, who bursts towards the Ireland 22 with the defence scrambling. Lowe shows him inside, and he tries to offload, but the ball goes forward. Ireland scrum. That was a clear opening for Scotland wasted, and it looks like they are going to have to be very clinical to keep pace with this Irish side.
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Penalty! 12min: Scotland 3-8 Ireland (Russell)
The hosts are on the board and have mustered a response after a storming start by Ireland.
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11 min: Scotland get ball in hand for the first time and they use it well. They attack down the right - the ball squirts loose after a tackle - and Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong is penalised for laying on the ball.
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Try! 8 min: Scotland 0-8 Ireland (Henshaw)
Scotland have not had a sniff so far, and it’s a dream start for Ireland. Sexton puts a searching, high crosskick up from left to right. Earls chases it, along with two Scottish defenders, Hogg and Harris, and manages to pat it back into space in the in-goal area with the defenders committed. Henshaw rushes to dab it down - and Ireland are dominating this in the first 10 minutes. Sexton narrowly misses the conversion.
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6 min: More possession for Ireland. They have a scrum around halfway and spin the ball left. James Lowe, the Ireland wing, has the ball in space. Sean Maitland tackles him, dumps him into touch, and gives him a friendly tap on the back as they both climb off the floor.
Penalty! 4 min: Scotland 0-3 Ireland (Sexton)
A strong start by Ireland. Sexton strokes over an easy penalty. The minimum they would have expected for a very convincing wave of opening attacks.
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2 min: With their first possession, Ireland start at an impressively high pace, moving through several phases, stretching the Scottish defence from right to left, and pushing the hosts back right to the try line. Gibson-Park prompts efficiently and brings several crash-ball carries from his forwards. Ireland win a penalty for an infringement by Russell on the floor and it’s blessed relief for the Scottish defence.
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First half kick-off!
Johnny Sexton starts the match for Ireland. Scotland win it, despite a good chase by Ireland, and Finn Russell kicks for touch.
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The pre-match formalities - Ireland’s Call, Flower of Scotland, and a moment to state rugby’s opposition to racism and discrimination - are now completed. Time for kick-off.
The British & Irish Lions coach, Warren Gatland, is pictured in the stands wearing a black face mask. He was also at Twickenham yesterday also, as you’d expect. The battle of the fly-halves today - Finn Russell v Johnny Sexton - is a key one with a view to Lions selection.
Conditions at Murrayfield are decent, around 8C, with plenty of brightness in the sky, although some drizzle is forecast. Five minutes until kick-off, and the teams are walking out.
There was some dazzling rugby on display from France yesterday, even if they ended up on the wrong side of a thrilling match.
Robert Kitson writes that this French team is here to stay:
The Scotland coach Gregor Townsend is asked how frustrating it was for the France game to be postponed: “It’s nothing compared to what people have faced in life, in the last 12 months ... the players have trained well this week ... I think we’re on the side of freshness, rather than rustiness. All 15 have to deliver, we’ve got to be spot on in every moment. We know if we switch off at all today, Ireland are such a good team, they will exploit that.”
Another BBC pundit, Jamie Heaslip, on Ireland’s physical approach against Scotland during his own playing days: “We knew if we went through them, we’d earn the right in other channels. Phase one, job one was execute your set-piece and go through them, run through them, go over them ... when you’re rucking as well, go through the person ... I can tell you right now, Paul O’Connell is putting the fear of God in those players to make that statement.”
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The Ireland coach Andy Farrell speaks to the BBC: “We’re progressing. We see it, day on day. Obviously that’s got to translate to the field, because that’s where it matters ... we’ve got to perform.
“We won’t need any more concentration of minds than coming to Murrayfield ... they’re certainly well coached under Gregor, they like to have a threatening attacking game ball-in-hand-wise ... like any Test match, these matches are won up front, aren’t they? And we’re pretty pleased with what we’ve got in the changing room.”
Up the jumper, then?
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“The typical narrative sees Ireland indulge Scotland’s flamboyant swordsmanship for a while, only to take out a gun, like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and shoot them. Scotland’s mission is to make those cuts tell this time.”
Michael Aylwin previews this afternoon’s encounter, which is now less than 30 minutes away:
Some thoughts on CJ Stander, who wins his 50th cap today, from Andy Farrell, courtesy of the IRFU rugby website:
“CJ is the most genuine bloke that you’d ever meet. He is as honest as the day is long and that’s what shows in his performance.
“How he acts on a daily basis and genuinely cares for people, is exactly how he plays for the team. He’s a team-first man that takes the hard yards and puts himself into difficult situations, where others may shy away from, from time to time.
“If anything needs doing as far as tough yards, he’s the one to put his hand up. I’m thoroughly delighted for CJ to get his 50th cap this week and I’ve no doubt he’ll have a great game on the back of that.”
Pundit Martin Johnson speaks on the BBC: “Ireland just need to win. Whatever works. For Scotland, they’re in with a chance of the championship, but they have to win this game.”
In short: both teams need to win.
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Before the game against Wales in the previous round, England coach Eddie Jones described the third match of the tournament as often being ‘make or break’. As it turned out, England broke. Today brings Scotland’s third match of the campaign after the postponement of the match with France due to a Covid-19 outbreak. And it does feel like a decisive occasion for Scotland. Here is Paul Rees:
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So, Scotland fans, Ireland fans, how are you feeling?
You can get in touch and let me know on email or tweet @LukeMcLaughlin
Team news
Four changes for Scotland: WP Nel comes into the front row, with Jamie Ritchie returning at blindside flanker. Sean Maitland is fit again after an achilles tendon injury, and starts on the wing, with Gloucester’s Chris Harris making his first start of the tournament at outside centre.
Three tweaks to the starting lineup, meanwhile, for Ireland: Keith Earls comes in on the wing, with Cian Healy and Rob Herring starting in the front row. CJ Stander, starting at No 8, wins his 50th cap. Conor Murray is fit again but Jamison Gibson-Park is preferred to start at scrum-half alongside Johnny Sexton at No 10.
Scotland: 15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Sam Johnson, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ali Price, 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. George Turner, 3. WP Nel, 4. Scott Cummings, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Matt Fagerson
Replacements: 16. David Cherry, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Grant Gilchrist, 20. Nick Haining, 21. Scott Steele, 22. Huw Jones, 23. Darcy Graham
Ireland: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Keith Earls, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. James Lowe, 10. Johnny Sexton, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 1. Cian Healy, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Iain Henderson, 5. James Ryan, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Will Connors, 8. CJ Stander
Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. Andrew Porter, 19. Ryan Baird, 20. Jack Conan, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Billy Burns, 23. Jordan Larmour
Preamble
Scotland sit fifth in the Six Nations table but, mathematically, they might still be champions. They would require bonus-point victories in their three remaining matches for that to come to pass, and for France to defeat Wales while denying Wayne Pivac’s side a bonus point. But given the completeness of Scotland’s display in their Twickenham victory against England last month, achieving three more wins is not beyond the bounds of possibility, even if the title looks unrealistic.
Gregor Townsend’s team, of course, will not be looking beyond this afternoon and the showdown against Ireland, who have won nine of the past 10 matches between the sides, and 16 of the previous 19 in this championship. There is no shortage of goodwill for today’s hosts - the Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell says this is the best Scotland team he has seen in 20 years - but for Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Hamish Watson et al, today is about proving they can be contenders. A second defeat in three matches would certainly be a sobering experience after the euphoria of the success against England.
Ireland did the necessary in their last match, comfortably overpowering Italy in Rome, and lost narrowly to France in the second round. There is a distinct lack of goodwill for Ireland’s coach, Andy Farrell, from quite a few followers of the team, who are yet to be convinced of the direction of travel. The players spoke of that win against Italy being proof of the attacking combinations from the training pitch starting to bear fruit in the heat of battle. But can they repeat the trick against tougher opposition? Ireland thus have their own motivation to produce a convincing performance today. With Johnny Sexton pulling the strings and Jamison Gibson-Park looking increasingly accomplished at No 9 behind that combative forward pack, they are never going to be an easy team to beat. It promises to be an enthralling battle for the Centenary Quaich. Team news, pre-match reading and more coming up.
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