Aoife Wafer leaps over. Ben Brady/INPHO

As it happened: Ireland v Scotland, Women's Six Nations

Scott Bemand’s side enjoy record-breaking occasion at Aviva Stadium.

FT: Ireland 54-5 Scotland

Hello, and welcome along to our live coverage of Ireland versus Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations. 

A record-breaking afternoon lies in store as Ireland play their first standalone game at Aviva Stadium. 30,000 tickets have been sold, with Scott Bemand’s side looking to finish their campaign on a high. 

Kick-off is at 1.30pm and the action is live on Virgin Media One, we’ll keep you up to date right here.

Here’s how the teams are named to start…

Ireland:

  • 15. Stacey Flood
  • 14. Béibhinn Parsons
  • 13. Aoife Dalton
  • 12. Eve Higgins
  • 11. Robyn O’Connor
  • 10. Dannah O’Brien 
  • 9. Emily Lane
  • 1. Ellena Perry 
  • 2. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald
  • 3. Linda Djougang
  • 4. Sam Monaghan
  • 5. Fiona Tuite 
  • 6. Brittany Hogan 
  • 7. Erin King (captain)
  • 8. Aoife Wafer

Replacements:

  • 16. Neve Jones
  • 17. Sadhbh McGrath
  • 18. Eilís Cahill
  • 19. Dorothy Wall
  • 20. Ruth Campbell
  • 21. Katie Whelan
  • 22. Vicky Elmes Kinlan
  • 23. Niamh Gallagher

Scotland:

  • 15. Chloe Rollie
  • 14. Rhona Lloyd
  • 13. Rachel Philipps
  • 12. Meryl Smith
  • 11. Shona Campbell
  • 10. Helen Nelson (captain)
  • 9. Leia Brebner-Holden
  • 1. Leah Bartlett
  • 2. Elis Martin
  • 3. Elliann Clarke 
  • 4. Emma Wassell
  • 5. Louise McMillan
  • 6. Becky Boyd
  • 7. Eva Donaldson
  • 8. Emily Coubrough

Replacements:

  • 16. Aicha Sutcliffe
  • 17. Demi Swann
  • 18. Molly Poolman
  • 19. Hollie Cunningham
  • 20. Holland Bogan
  • 21. Rhea Clarke
  • 22. Lucia Scott
  • 23. Coreen Grant

Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau [FFR].

sam-monaghan-and-ellena-perry-arrive-ahead-of-the-match Sam Monaghan (left) and Ellena Perry arrive. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland make one change from their win over Wales, with Sam Monaghan named in the second row and Dorothy Wall dropping to the bench.

Vicky Elmes Kinlan returns among the replacements.

beibhinn-parsons-arrives-ahead-of-the-match Béibhinn Parsons arrives. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

linda-djougang-with-fan-jennifer-malone-ahead-of-the-match Linda Djougang with fan Jennifer Malone ahead of the match. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

The teams are out on the pitch, and Murray Kinsella is at Aviva Stadium for us.

Captain Erin King breaks into a huge smile at the reception after Amhrán na bhFiann. It stays on her face as Ireland’s Call is belted out with gusto, complete with a fist pump at the end. Emotional moments, game face on now.

KICK-OFF – Dannah O’Brien gets us underway at Aviva Stadium.

Ireland 0-0 Scotland 

2 mins - Scotland’s attempt to clear their lines from the kick-off sees them miss touch. Béibhinn Parsons collects and launches Ireland’s first attack, but a mix-up between Linda Djougang and Cliodhna Moloney-Macdonald leads to a knock on and we have our first scrum of the afternoon.

Ireland 0-0 Scotland 

4 mins – Huge push from the Ireland pack drives Scotland off their own ball, and they move through the phases. Eve Higgins breaks loose with a big carry, almost in. Scotland cough up a penalty in the throws, we go back for it…

TRY! Ireland 5-0 Scotland (Moloney-Macdonald, 5 mins)

What a start for Ireland! 

After O’Brien kicks the penalty to the corner, the line-out maul does the trick and Cliodhna Moloney-McDonald touches down to make the early pressure pay off. 

O’Brien sweetly slots the penalty, 7-0. 

TRY! Ireland 12-0 Scotland (O’Connor, 8 mins)

The dream start!!! 

Ireland keep piling on the early pressure after the restart, and they break loose, with Robyn O’Connor cutting through to make it two tries in three minutes.

O’Brien adds the extras again. 14-0. Brilliant stuff from the hosts.

Ireland 14-0 Scotland 

12 mins - Scotland do their utmost to recover from two early blows, but they knock on and play into Ireland’s hands once more. 

The crowd roars Aoife Wafer on as she looks to make a break, but Shona Campbell steps up with a big tackle.

All Ireland here at the minute, another try seems inevitable as they march upfield.

TRY! Ireland 19-0 Scotland (Wafer, 14 mins)

Who else? Aoife Wafer gets in on the scoring act, as Ireland’s dream start gets dreamier. 

It looks like there will only be one result as they unleash the line-out maul once more, this side from the left, and Wafer eventually burrows over just outside the post. 

O’Brien goes 3/3 from the conversion. 21-0, just like that.

 

Ireland 21-0 Scotland 

18 mins - And Ireland are already on the hunt for their fourth try, Scotland unable to live with their pace and power. They’re pinged for offside, and O’Brien goes for the corner again…

TRY! Ireland 26-0 Scotland (King, 19 mins)

Bonus point secured before the 20 minutes mark!

A similar try to the third here, a line-out maul out left. Linda Djoungang almost gets over, but it’s captain Erin King who grounds it in the end for her second try of the campaign.

That’s Ireland’s 21st in total, their most ever in the Women’s Six Nations.

O’Brien misses her first conversion attempt of the afternoon.

Ireland 26-0 Scotland

23 mins – Breathless stuff, Ireland look to go again after their statement opening quarter.

Scotland try to clear their lines, but Ireland’s pressure is relentless. Ferocious effort out there. Helen Nelson finds touch, but another green wave is imminent…

Ireland 26-0 Scotland 

25 mins – More slight relief for Scotland as Ireland mess up a line-out on their ’22, probably the host’s first misstep of the afternoon.

They look to edge upfield, but their own line-out goes awry and we have an Irish scrum.

Here’s a look at Ireland’s third and fourth tries…

(With apologies to any try-scorers not credited: widespread confusion that it might have been Brittany Hogan and Ellena Perry who crossed. Too much to keep up with!)

TRY! Ireland 31-0 Scotland (Moloney-Macdonald, 28 mins)

Five stars!!!! More line-out success for Ireland, as they move through the phases. Higgins with a big carry. Moloney picks the ball from the ruck on the line and powers over. 

O’Brien back on target with the extras, 33-0.

Oh wait… TMO review underway.

Ireland’s fifth try – and Moloney-Macdonald’s second – has been ruled out.

Back to 26-0.

TRY! Ireland 31-0 Scotland (Wafer, 30 mins)

There’s that fifth try! 

Scotland overthrow a line-out, and Moloney – like a woman possessed – makes a huge carry. 

She’s held up and Ireland recycle, Wafer finishing another brilliant team move. 

O’Brien converts to make it 33-0.

aoife-wafer-celebrates-after-cliodhna-moloney-macdonald-scores-a-try Ireland's Aoife Wafer celebrates after Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald scores. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland 33-0 Scotland 

33 mins - Scotland concede yet another penalty, they’re rattled and can’t live with the pressure Ireland are putting them under. 

O’Brien finds touch, and they go again from the line-out…

TRY! Ireland 38-0 Scotland (Flood, 35 mins) 

Stacey Flood gets in on the scoring act with her first try of this campaign. 

Ireland work it across the pitch from the line-out on the left, Flood spots a gap and the full-back crashes over. 

O’Brien continues her impressive first half off the tee – she has only missed one conversion attempt – and it’s 40-0!

TRY! Ireland 45-0 Scotland (Wafer, 39 mins)

Wow!!!!! Just immense. The pick of the bunch. 

O’Brien with a spiral bomb, O’Connor makes the original break, Wafer in support does the rest… the Wexford star turns on the gas, dummies, and leaps over.

Think that’s her hat-trick, but there’s some confusion about scorers earlier.

Irregardless, sensational stuff from Ireland.

O’Brien on target again to make it 47-0.

HALF-TIME: Ireland 47-0 Scotland

robyn-oconnor-evades-a-tackle Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

Whoooooaaaahhhh. Time to draw breath. 

What an incredible first half from Ireland. Completely and utterly dominant, an admittedly poor Scotland side unable to live with them. 

47-0 is some scoreline.

Ireland had the bonus-point wrapped up within 20 minutes, they sign off with seven tries (I think, I’ve lost count!) and even had one chalked off. 

A sensational performance to go with the occasion, as Scott Bemand’s side turn on the style. It has been a joy to watch — maybe not so much to liveblog! 

SECOND-HALF – Scotland get the game restarted in the rain.

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

42 mins - Ireland cough up an early penalty, Higgins gets caught on the wrong side while attempting to tackle and the ruck forms around her. 

From the subsequent set-piece, they try to string a few phases together and eventually find some spaces in the Irish defence. 

King eventually stops them and wins a jackal penalty to a big cheer.

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

45 mins - Ireland clear their lines, but only momentarily. Bit of over and back, as Scotland look to threaten again but they’re turned over. 

Scrappy enough start to the second half.

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

48 mins – Ireland cough up another penalty, think it was Wafer this time.

Scotland have started the second half with marginally more possession as they look to stem the tide.

Bemand is readying six changes.

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

50 mins – Neve Jones, Sadhbh McGrath, Eilís Cahill, Dorothy Wall, Ruth Campbell, Vicky Elmes Kinlan all come on for Ireland.

Scotland get their first sight of the try-line, after O’Brien is charged down but a kick is overcooled and it dribbles over the end line.

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

54 mins - This second half hasn’t really caught fire, with Scotland coming out improved and Ireland not kicking into gear just yet. 

They threaten to turn on the style, with Parsons prominent, but Scotland force the turnover.

 

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

55 mins - The Scots make a triple change, having already introduced fresh legs since the interval.

Ireland are back on the front foot, working through the phases and playing with an advantage inside the ’22…

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

55 mins - Elmes-Kinlan drops the ball out wide, and we go back to the penalty with a 5m scrum in the middle of the pitch. 

Brilliant from Lane in the build-up there, looking to snipe through. Ireland on the hunt for try number eight.

Ireland 47-0 Scotland 

58 mins – It looks inevitable, with the try-line at their mercy and Scotland being pinged for offside. A Scottish player thinks she has stopped them, emerging with the ball, but we go back for the penalty.

TRY! Ireland 52-0 Scotland (Hogan, 59 mins)

There we go!!!! Ireland’s first try of the second half, Brittany Hogan crossing for her second of the afternoon. Normal service resumes.

O’Brien converts, 54-0.

The record attendance is announced: 31,294.

Incredible.

Ireland replacements - Katie Whelan and Niamh Gallagher join the party.

Ireland 54-0 Scotland 

64 mins – The scrappiness and sloppiness continues, both sides guilty of giving up possession. There have been stoppages and mistakes, not a whole pile else to report right now.

Ireland 54-0 Scotland 

68 mins – Most of the recent play has been inside the Scottish ’22. Ireland are keeping them in there, but the visitors are coping better than in the opening half. As I type, Cahill boots to touch.

Ireland 54-0 Scotland 

70 mins - Ireland keep chipping away, the Scottish defence holding firm. 

They play out inside their own end-zone, and look to break up the right hand-side of the pitch but Elmes-Kinlan makes a huge tackle and eventually force the penalty. 

Ireland just keeping their visitors penned in here as they look to finish with a flourish.

Ireland 54-0 Scotland 

75 mins - Nelson eventually kicks Scotland up to halfway as Ireland are penalised for offside. The win the line-out and look to string some phases together, relieve some pressure on the defence. It’s been a really tough afternoon for them in Dublin.

Ireland 54-0 Scotland 

77 mins - The Irish clean sheet is in danger here as Scotland break upfield.

A turnover 5m out by Erin King is greeted by a huge roar, but we go back for a penalty earlier on.

Ireland 54-0 Scotland 

78 mins - The line-out malfunctions as they overthrow again and the chance goes a-begging when O’Brien finds touch.

Aoife Wafer is named Player of the Match. Death, taxes, and…

Just immense, what a player.

Ireland 54-0 Scotland 

80 mins - Clock in the red, Scotland play on in search of their first try. 

Huge Irish tackle, but we go back to an earlier-called penalty. 

Ireland doing everything to keep them to nil…

Yellow card for Ruth Campbell as Ireland keep fighting to keep their clean sheet. 84 minutes on the clock.

TRY! Ireland 54-5 Scotland (Sutcliffe, 85 mins)

The damn breaks and it’s Scotland who have the final say. 

Aicha Sutcliffe finishes off a line-out maul.

Nelson misses the conversion, and that is that.

FULL-TIME: Ireland 54-5 Scotland

stacey-flood-celebrates-with-eve-higgins-and-beibhinn-parsons-after-scoring-a-try Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

Sin é. What a day for Irish women’s rugby at Aviva Stadium.

The work was all done in the opening period as Scott Bemand’s side chalked up a 47-o first-half lead. 

Scotland scored at the death to ensure they weren’t kept to nil, as Ireland won 54-5 in front of a record-breaking crowd of over 31,000.

aoife-wafer-scores-a-try Aoife Wafer leaps over. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

“See yiz next year,” shouts Aoife Wafer as she finishes her Player of the Match interview. What a superstar.

That’s all from our live coverage, but Murray Kinsella’s report is available to read on The 42. Thanks for reading!

(Apologies, too, for the incorrect Scotland score alerted to some at full-time: it was a hectic one!)

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