Despite some Scottish resistance Ireland showed their class in second-straight bonus-point win
Scotland 18 Ireland 32
With a massive bonus-point win secured last weekend, Ireland travelled to Murrayfield in search of becoming the only ‘Grand Slam’ candidates with a win over hosts Scotland. Frances defeat to England earlier left Scotland with the chance to blow the competition wide open with a victory.
Ireland lacked composure in the first-half against England, they couldn’t afford careless penalties and handling errors in important positions with a buoyant home crowd backing the Calcutta Cup holders.
They seemed to have learned from their mistakes, as they kept Scotland under pressure on their five-metre line forcing them into multiple penalties. Eventually, a great swing to the right-flank from Sam Prendergast allowed Calvin Nash to sail in unopposed, with Prendergast duly adding the extra two afterwards.
However, with the mistakes from last week being learned from in terms of handling errors and penalties, Ireland’s picture-perfect lineouts looked shaky in Scotland.
Despite that, Nash seemed to be in for a second try of the game less than 15 minutes in. The ball bounced away from him, however Duhan Van Der Merwe rather carelessly nudged Calvin Nash to the ground, allowing Ireland another opportunity to send their maul at the Scottish try-line – as well as sending Van Der Merwe to the sin-bin.
Scotland were resilient though, holding their visitors up and escaping their self-inflicted danger.
Self-inflicted near-misses seemed to be the theme for Scotland, with Blair Kinghorn’s kick out deep in his own territory blocked down by Prendergast allowing Ireland yet another chance at driving over the line. Yet again, the Irish were held up and the hosts could breath a massive sigh of relief.
Scotland were far too sloppy in their play, reckless or careless play a prominent feature in the opening exchanges. Ireland were unable to take full advantage early on, being equal parts dominant and inefficient.
After a lengthy break in play for injuries to Scotland’s Finn Russell and Darcy Graham, Ireland punished another Scotland penalty with Sam Prendergast kicking a penalty over to send Ireland 10-0 up just over the midway mark of the first-half.
The home side were far too casual with their kicks and Ireland took full advantage. They blocked multiple efforts, with the pressure telling as Scotland seemed to have to scramble and panic on each occasion.
Ireland made their dominance count once more as Caelan Doris got through off the back of a scrum, which came after a knock-on from Huw Jones. A great carry from Prendergast set Doris up, with Prendergast going three for three on his kicks for 17 Irish points with no Scottish reply.
Scotland did eventually find some reprieve on the brink of half-time. A wonderful Van Der Merwe try off the back of a lovely offload from Stafford McDowall, seeing them finish off their first real chance in Irish territory and sending the sides into the break at 17-5 after a missed Blair Kinghorn conversion.
Scotland did start the second period brighter, Blair Kinghorn rectifying his earlier miss by delivering three points from a close-range penalty. The best was yet to come for the home side however.
Ireland, who failed to take advantage of Scotland’s lackadaisical first-half, were being punished for their own lethargic nature in the second-half. Robbie Henshaw’s attempt to intercept left loads of space for Blair Kinghorn to intercept, and a knock-on from Henshaw left Scotland with a penalty try.
It was truly game on when Blair Kinghorn kicked the subsequent penalty, leaving six points between the sides with plenty of time left for the Scots to complete the comeback.
A meaty carry from Doris and Jamison Gibson-Park was the perfect reply, bringing a five-metre scrum their way courtesy of a Kinghorn touchback. From the scrum, it seemed the chance had disappeared but once the ball hit James Lowe he found some space to exploit and grounded the ball, with Prendergast’s perfect kicking day continuing.
Once again Ireland were in control at 24-11, and they needed to hold it.
They would do more than that, when their bonus-point try came from a fairly innocuous kick out of the ruck from Gibson-Park. Hugo Keenan gave chase excellently, with Jack Conan then delivering the fourth try on the exposed Scottish right, as Prendergast would see his first missed attempt off the tee.
He would make amends for that 10 minutes after the try and with 10 minutes left to play, kicking a central penalty straight over, leaving the scoreboard reading 32-11 in Ireland’s favour.
Scotland replied with five left on the clock, scrum-half Ben White barging himself over the line with Blair Kinghorn adding the extras. It was too little too late as Ireland go into the third round the only side capable of the Grand Slam.
Ireland: Andrew Porter (Cian Healy, 69′); Ronan Kelleher (Dan Sheehan, 41′), Finlay Bealham (Thomas Clarkson, 60′), James Ryan (Ryan Baird, 64′), Tadhg Beirne (Baird 9′ (Jack Conan, 13′, (Beirne, 18′))); Peter O’Mahony (Conan, 51′), Josh Van Der Flier; Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park (Conor Murray, 68′); Sam Prendergast; James Lowe, Bundee Aki; Robbie Henshaw, Calvin Nash (Jack Crowley, 64′), Hugo Keenan
Scotland: Rory Sutherland (Pierre Schoeman, 47′); Dave Cherry (Ewan Ashman, 47′), Zander Fagerson (Will Hurd, 67′), Jonny Gray (Gregor Brown, 47′), Grant Gilchrist (Sam Skinner, 67′); Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge; Jack Dempsey (Sam Skinner, 60′), Ben White; Finn Russell (Stafford McDowall, 21′); Duhan Van Der Merwe, Tom Jordan; Huw Jones, Darcy Graham (Jamie Dobie, 21′), Blair Kinghorn