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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Ireland v Scotland, Six Nations Championship

Ireland took on Scotland, as both sides looked to end their Six Nations campaign on a high.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

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Here are today’s teams…

Ireland

15. Simon Zebo
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Jared Payne
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Keith Earls
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Mike Ross
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Devin Toner
6. CJ Stander
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Jamie Heaslip

Replacements:

16. Richardt Strauss
17. Cian Healy
18. Nathan White
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Fergus McFadden

Scotland

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Duncan Taylor
12. Alex Dunbar
11. Tim Visser
10. Duncan Weir
9. Greig Laidlaw (captain)

1. Alasdair Dickinson
2. Ross Ford
3. WP Nel
4. Richie Gray
5. Tim Swinson
6. John Barclay
7. John Hardie
8. Ryan Wilson

Replacements:

16. Stuart McInally
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Moray Low
19. Rob Harley
20. Josh Strauss
21. Henry Pyrgos
22. Peter Horne
23. Sean Lamont

Some pre-game pics…

A view of RBS branding being painted on the pitch A view of RBS branding being painted on the pitch. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland players' GPS units lined up Ireland players' GPS units lined up. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

A view of Keith Earls 50th cap jersey A view of Keith Earls 50th cap jersey. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Joe Schmidt arrives Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt arrives. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Scotland fans from Aberdeen Scotland fans from Aberdeen. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

Sally Grey and Katie Coffee Sally Grey and Katie Coffee. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

We’re underway…

Good start from Ireland.

Sexton’s cross-field kick finds touch inside the Scotland 22.

More early pressure from Ireland.

A Scottish player is penalised for being on the wrong side, and the hosts have a penalty.

IRELAND 3-0 SCOTLAND (SEXTON PENALTY 6)

Sexton gives Ireland the lead that their positive early start deserves.

He succeeds with routine penalty in front of the posts.

That’s the first sour note of the afternoon, as Sexton drags his second penalty attempt wide.

It’s been all Ireland so far.

IRELAND 6-0 SCOTLAND (SEXTON PENALTY 13)

Sexton makes it two successful attempts from three, with a well-executed kick from 45m out.

Scotland have yet to turn up.

Mike Ross is penalised for not rolling away.

Now Scotland have a chance to register their first points of the day.

IRELAND 6-3 SCOTLAND (LAIDLAW PENALTY 15)

IRELAND 9-3 SCOTLAND (SEXTON PENALTY 17)

Sexton makes no mistake again to make it three attempts from four.

It’s been a little stop-start, but Ireland have undoubtedly been the superior side in these opening stages,

IRELAND 9-8 SCOTLAND (HOGG TRY 20)

SCOTLAND 10-9 IRELAND (LAIDLAW CONVERSION)

Scotland lead for the first time, after Hogg exploits a gap in the hosts’ defence and crosses over unchallenged.

Laidlaw makes no mistake with the conversion.

Sexton kicks in to touch as Ireland go for the try.

The hosts now have a lineout inside the Scottish 22.

YELLOW CARD FOR JONNY BARCLAY.

Scotland are temporarily reduced to 14 men, as Barclay is penalised for coming in at the side.

The Irish pressure in their opponents’ 22 continues…

IRELAND 14-10 SCOTLAND (STANDER TRY 28)

After much consultation with the TMO, an Irish try is awarded.

CJ Stander dives over amid an abundance of bodies.

IRELAND 16-10 SCOTLAND (SEXTON CONVERSION)

IRELAND 21-10 SCOTLAND (EARLS TRY)

A Sexton kick causes confusion among the Scots, and Earls is on hand to pick up the loose ball and run in for an easy try.

Sexton hits a difficult conversion wide.

Ireland continue to dominate possession and ask questions of the Scots.

Aside from that Hogg try, Joe Schmidt will be more than satisfied with how this first half has panned out.

Ireland v Scotland - 2016 RBS Six Nations - Aviva Stadium Ireland's Johnny Sexton (left) offloads to team-mate Jamie Heaslip. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Ireland penalised for not releasing and Scotland have a penalty.

The Irish have had over 80% possession in this first half.

HALF-TIME: IRELAND 21-13 SCOTLAND

Laidlaw kicks a penalty in the last action of the half to bring Scotland within eight points of their opponents.

The scoreline probably flatters Scotland slightly, with Ireland dominating for long periods of that first half.

A note of caution for the second half…

Ireland v Scotland - 2016 RBS Six Nations - Aviva Stadium Scotland's Stuart Hogg (left) watches on as Ireland's Keith Earls (second left) scores their second try. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The second half is underway…

An early Scottish knock-on gives Ireland a scrum just outside their 22.

It’s been a scrappy start to the second half.

There’s been a couple of Garryowens from both teams, with neither side gaining any real momentum yet.

Ireland burst through all of a sudden.

Henshaw passes to Trimble on the wing, but his offload finds a Scottish defender.

IRELAND 26-13 SCOTLAND (MURRAY TRY)

IRELAND 28-13 SCOTLAND (SEXTON CONVERSION)

After sustained Irish pressure, Conor Murray dives over to extend Ireland’s advantage.

Sexton puts the icing on the cake with a conversion from the touchline.

A bit of Scottish pressure now.

The visitors have a lineout inside the Irish 22.

IRELAND 28-18 SCOTLAND (GRAY TRY)

IRELAND 28-20 SCOTLAND (LAIDLAW CONVERSION)

Richie Gray runs between the posts unchallenged as Scotland take advantage of an extra man out wide.

That was too easy from an Irish perspective.

Some kicking back and forth between the two sides eventually results in a Scottish penalty.

Tommy O’Donnell was punished for coming in at the side.

Ireland v Scotland - 2016 RBS Six Nations - Aviva Stadium Scotland's Stuart Hogg takes on Ireland's Keith Earls (left) Robbie Henshaw and Conor Murray (right). PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

More pressure from Ireland as Scotland are forced back into their 22.

However, another penalty is conceded, relieving the pressure on the visitors somewhat.

Ireland have conceded seven penalties to Scotland’s 10.

Ill-discipline has cost both sides at vital moments today.

YELLOW CARD FOR ALEX DUNBAR!

Replays show Sexton being lifted off his feet and thrown down off the ball.

Dunbar is sin-binned as a result of his actions.

IRELAND 33-20 SCOTLAND (TONER TRY)

Ireland capitalise on their extra man, as Toner dives under the posts after good work from Heaslip and Murray.

A minor scuffle breaks out in the aftermath of the try.

IRELAND 35-20 SCOTLAND (SEXTON CONVERSION)

Scotland are surely all but beaten now.

The visitors have 10 minutes to overcome a 15-point deficit.

Trimble is held up at the line.

It’s brought back, however, as there was an Irish forward pass in the build up.

Scotland have a penalty owing to a late tackle by Trimble.

They opt to kick it into touch.

Another penalty for Scotland.

And another scuffle breaks out, with an attempted punch on Conor Murray among other incidents.

Sexton is sin-binned for coming in from the side.

Scotland are in the Irish 22 and finishing this game strongly.

IRELAND 35-25 SCOTLAND (DUNBAR TRY)

Fresh from returning to the action, Alex Dunbar crosses over after some nice Scottish passing out wide.

The conversion is missed.

Ireland v Scotland - 2016 RBS Six Nations - Aviva Stadium Ireland's Devin Toner (centre) in a rolling maul. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

FULL-TIME: IRELAND 35-25 SCOTLAND

So that’s that. Ireland ultimately earn a deserved win, with Jamie Heaslip named man-of-the-match.

Ireland dominated in terms of possession and territory, with yellow cards at crucial moments costing Scotland dearly.

The one disappointing note for Joe Schmidt will be how many points Ireland conceded despite their dominance for long periods.

Overall though, Ireland have ended a disappointing campaign in encouraging fashion.

Right, that’s that.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.

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Ireland’s standards back on track as improving Scotland come to Dublin>

Life after Joe comes into perspective but Schmidt has built a legacy in Ireland>

 

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