Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The42‘s live coverage of Ireland’s second World Cup warm-up as the preparations for the tournament continue.
After winning in Cardiff last weekend, Joe Schmidt’s men will want to continue on the winning trail with the Scots in town for this teatime kick-off.
We get underway at 5pm.
Schmidt has made 14 changes from Cardiff seven days ago with Mike Ross the only player to retain his place.
23-year-old Leinster flanker Jack Conan will make his debut in a back-row containing Chris Henry and Sean O’Brien, who captains Ireland this afternoon.
Elsewhere, Ian Madigan gets his chance at out-half while Gordan D’Arcy and Jared Payne make up the midfield pairing.
Ireland:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne
12. Gordon D’Arcy
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Ian Madigan
9. Isaac Boss
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Jack Conan
7. Chris Henry
8. Sean O’Brien (captain)
And Paul O’Connell could be set for his first outing of the season as he’s named on the bench alongside Connacht’s Nathan White who wasn’t in the original 46-man training squad.
It’s a nice day in the capital, although the dark clouds have just begun to converge over Dublin 4 in the last half hour. There’s not much of a wind so conditions should be conducive to some free-flowing rugby.
To pass the time until kick-off, why not browse through some of our pre-match offerings:
- IRFU hedging their bets on potential World Cup win bonuses
- Ireland look to Zebo’s ‘X-factor’ at fullback as Cotter’s Scots visit Dublin
- Ireland looking for more explosive defensive plays like Trimble’s
- The Tullow Tank is delighted to be captaining Ireland for the first time
- ‘I think he could put serious pressure on Mike Ross’ – Paul Wallace on Nathan White
- ‘Cian is a chirpy and happy fella… you don’t want to get him mad!’
- ‘Joe always says you’ve got to make the guy outside you look better’
For those of you wondering, the game is live on Sky Sports 1 while RTÉ have highlights this evening at 9.55pm.
Sky acquired the rights for Ireland’s home fixtures and all of England’s games in this warm-up series.
Vern Cotter has named an experimental XV for this afternoon’s clash at Lansdowne Road with Glasgow flanker Hugh Blake handed a debut.
The 22-year-old has played for New Zealand at underage level but qualifies for the Scots through his Glaswegian grandparents.
Greig Tonks is named at out-half alongside captain Henry Pyrgos while Peter Horne and former back row Richie Vernon are in the midfield.
Scotland:
15. Ruaridh Jackson
14. Sean Lamont
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Tim Visser
10. Greig Tonks
9. Henry Pyrgos (captain)
1. Ryan Grant
2. Fraser Brown
3. Jon Welsh
4. Jim Hamilton
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Blair Cowan
7. Hugh Blake
8. Dave Denton
Big crowd expected this afternoon for Ireland’s penultimate home outing before the World Cup.
Sean O’Brien becomes the 106th player to captain Ireland.
Ground is filling up ahead of kick-off as the teams line-up in the tunnel. Still plenty of green seats around the Aviva Stadium but you wouldn’t expect it to be a sell-out.
It’s time for the anthems.
Right, the formalities are almost complete and it’s finally time for some rugby.
With a little over a month until Ireland’s World Cup opener against Canada in Cardiff, this game is another invaluable chance for Joe Schmidt to cast his eye over the current strength and depth of his squad.
And we’re off!
Early possession for Ireland as the ball is recycled before the hosts eventually win a penalty. Isaac Boss takes it quickly and Madigan sends a kick cross-field towards Tommy Bowe but Scotland stand firm.
Knock-on gives Scotland a scrum on their own ten-metre line. There’s a real pre-season feeling to this game already with an eerie silence inside the ground.
After a restart, Scotland work the ball left but are penalised for being off their feet and Ireland have the penalty. Madigan sends it deep into Scottish territory but it wasn’t the set-piece Ireland wanted as they lose possession. Scrappy start.
Much better this time around from Cronin as Toner rises to gather and there’s good ball for the backs but when it comes out to the left, Zebo and Fitzgerald aren’t on the same page and the former’s pass goes into touch.
Extremely scrappy start to proceedings with both sides looking a bit rusty.
Ireland are penalised by referee Pascal Gauzere for not driving straight at the scrum. Dave Kilcoyne was the guilty party on that occasion.
The error count is rising already as Devin Toner is the latest player to knock it on after James Hamilton had fumbled forward from the Scottish line-out.
Much stronger scrum from Scotland and it’s good ball for Henry Pyrgos as the guests recycle possession but again the whistle goes as Tonks is penalised for not releasing.
TRY! Ireland 7-0 Scotland (Henry 14′)
Finally something for the crowd to jeer about as Chris Henry powers his way over from close range. Madigan adds the extras with a sweet strike from the left.
That was the Ulsterman’s third international try and it all stemmed from typically industrious work by O’Brien at the breakdown. The captain won the penalty and from the resulting line-out, Ireland had the platform to throw the ball wide before Henry eventually found a hole in the Scottish defence.
Zebo is off his feet at the ruck and Scotland are given a chance to relieve the pressure Ireland had applied over the last 10 minutes.
Scotland concede their fifth penalty inside the opening quarter and Ireland are up into the visitors’ 22.
After a couple of passages of play, Ireland create the platform for themselves just metres from the Scottish line but it breaks down as Grant Gilchrist gets his hands on the ball and Cronin is pinged.
So frustrating! All the energy and momentum is sucked out of the game once again as Boss fumbles at the foot of the ruck.
Just before, Zebo judged Tonks’ up-and-under brilliantly as he collected safely under pressure from Tim Visser,
But Ireland do just enough to turn it over as the hosts apply the pressure in the scrum.
Ireland get on the front foot as Bowe rises highest to gather Madigan’s kick but Scotland just about scramble back to plug the holes and stop Ireland in their tracks.
Ireland forced to defend inside their own half as Scotland look to apply some semblance of pressure. The guests recycle the ball well and Cotter’s side are on the front foot but Ireland look organised.
TRY! Ireland 7-7 Scotland (Cowan)
That was a great score from Scotland! Blair Cowan finishes off a brilliant move in the right corner after the visitors remain patient in the build-up and eventually they pierce through the Irish defence.
The key to that was quick ball and Peter Horne levels the score.
After the referee lectures the front-rows, Ireland win a huge penalty and Mike Ross takes all the plaudits from his team-mates. Six minutes until half-time and we’re level pegging at 7-7.
Cronin finds his target but Luke Fitzgerald loses the ball in midfield and Scotland look to break quickly.
Scotland are growing in confidence and a lot more comfortable in possession after that try. They were quick in the turnover as Ruaridh Jackson and Dave Denton inject some pace and momentum in the Scottish move.
It all leads to a penalty but Horne pulls his effort and Ireland emerge unscathed.
Scotland finishing the half strongly as they go through the phases. Ireland are guilty of missing a couple of tackles and they appeared to be hanging on a bit but O’Brien comes to the rescue.
And that’s half-time! Ireland 7-7 Scotland at the break.
That was a scrappy and disjointed first-half of rugby. Scotland finished strongly as they grew in stature after Blair’s try. Not much to excite the crowd.
Ireland started purposefully but after a bright opening, fell flat and Joe Schmidt will have plenty of work to do at the break.
On Sky Sports, Paul Wallace admits it’s very much a ‘pre-season’ game and Ireland have been ‘very disappointing’.
Ian Madigan gets us back underway in this second-half.
Another handling error (Ireland’s 7th) gifts Scotland the ball but possession changes hands again and we see Jared Payne for the first time as he makes a breaks.
By the way, no changes for either side at the interval.
Scotland have picked up where they left off and have Ireland on the back foot after a marauding run by Lamont on this near side. The visitors win the line-out and are now just yards from the line.
TRY! Ireland 7-12 Scotland (Pyrgos)
That was coming and it’s no less than Scotland deserve. Ireland are stretched in defence and the scrum-half isolated Mike Ross and Jack Conan to bundle his way over the line.
Horne misses the conversion but Scotland are in the lead for the first time this afternoon.
Sloppy start to the second-half and Ireland are punished. We have a stoppage in play as Ryan Grant is down and receiving treatment. It doesn’t look good for the prop and this interruption affords Ireland the opportunity to gather themselves again.
Grant leaves the pitch on a stretcher with what appears to be a protective boot around his foot. Lets hope it’s not serious.
Ireland search for the instant reply but a promising move ends with another turnover and Scotland take the sting out of the game again.
Visser makes an incisive break on this near touchline as D’Arcy misses the initial tackle. It’s all gone a bit flat again and this will suit the Scots.
So close! Scotland were very nearly in under the posts for a third try but the ball bounces in Ireland’s favour and into the hands of Kilcoyne. The crowd are trying to get behind the home side but Scotland, to their credit, are playing with a great deal of patience and confidence.
Much better from Ireland as they surge forward with pace and purpose. Kilcoyne gives the attack some impetus with a great line and after several phases, the referee gives the penalty for a deliberate knock-on. That got the crowd off their seats.
Mike Ross has made way and Connacht’s Nathan White is on for his debut.
TRY! Ireland 14-12 Scotland (Cronin)
Scotland are unable to contain the Irish maul from the line-out and Cronin bundles over. Madigan adds the extras and Ireland are back in front.
And the biggest cheer of the day is reserved for Paul O’Connell as he makes his introduction after 55 minutes. Huge reception for the former Munster lock.
The complexion of this game has changed in an instance as Ireland have all the momentum again. O’Connell receives a huge cheer as he gets involved for the first time but Fitzgerald can’t gather Zebo’s pass on the left and the wind is taken out of Ireland’s sails again.
Chance for Scotland to edge ahead again as Cronin is penalised for a clean-out around the neck.
And Horne makes no mistake from the tee as he dissects the posts.
A flurry of substitutions and one of them – Dave Kearney – makes an immediate impact as he pierces through the Scottish defence. He’s eventually halted just inside the 22 but this is a great position for Ireland.
TRY! Ireland 21-15 Scotland (Zebo)
What an impact! Kearney’s break provides the platform and Madigan’s beautiful step and hands puts Zebo in and Ireland regain the lead.
TRY! Ireland 21-22 (Horne)
Immediate response from the visitors as Ireland are ripped apart, not once but twice. Fitzgerald misses touch and then Lamont finds space to offload to Horne and he powers over.
Ruaridh Jackson takes over the kicking duties and he nails his first effort.
My word, what a couple of minutes or rugby. Out of nowhere, the sides exchange scores and it all means Scotland hold a one-point lead heading into the final 14 minutes.
Eoin Reddan, meanwhile, is on for Isaac Boss.
TRY! Ireland 28-22 Scotland (Fitzgerald)
What a try! With a penalty advantage, Madigan launches a kick cross-field and it’s right on the money for Fitzgerald to run onto and touch down in the corner. That was class from Madigan.
Ireland have taken a stranglehold of proceedings now and are starting to entertain the crowd. The hosts have the possession and territory again.
Very unlike Madigan as he spurns the chance to extend Ireland’s advantage from the kicking tee. The visitors remain within a converted try.
Just four minutes left and the game is still in the balance.
Simon Zebo makes his way off and is given a good reception by the fans still inside the ground. The Munster man is awarded the man-of-the-match award by Sky Sports.
Last chance saloon for Scotland as the clock goes red. They have possession and an advantage.
And that’s it as there’s a knock-on in contact and Ireland hold on to make it two from two in these World Cup warm-ups.
Full-time: Ireland 28-22 Scotland
