So why wasn’t this kid picked in Japan? Looked lively every time he got the ball.

Must have been bored out of his mind in that first half, when he barely saw the ball. To his credit, his organisational work during the late, crazy minutes, was impressive.

Class act, always posing a danger whenever he got the ball - but forced off at half-time with an injury.

If Conway was the most underemployed back in the first-half, then Aki was a close second. Still, he combined well with Jacob Stockdale for one tidy move just before the break, and put in a typically honest shift right through the game. If ever the solid rather than spectacular phrase seemed appropriate, it was here.

His 33^rd minute run – which led to Sexton scoring a penalty – was the best left-wing charge Dublin has seen since Jim Larkin. Needed to see way more of the ball than he did.

Scored a try and then saved one – when his sharp assessment of the danger posed by the counter-attacking Scots led to him nipping in front of Adam Hastings to prevent a certain score. Add in the 19 points, the decent decision-making and he has a good day's work to reflect on.

A mixed bag. Looked decent early on, setting up the Sexton try, making good decisions, getting good field position on the back of his box-kicks. But it was a far from flawless display – Sam Johnson’s intercept nearly resulting in a Scotland try. Gave away one cheap penalty on 58 minutes, when Scotland were trying to exit their 22. Replaced soon after.

Got penalised on 15 minutes which led to Hastings scoring his second penalty of the day – and got pinged again in the second half just before he was briefly called ashore. Still, while he continued to struggle in the scrum after his re-introduction, his pass to Conor Murray in the lead-up to Sexton’s try was sublime.

His darts were decent, if a little on the safe side. He can't be faulted for effort, lasting the pace until the final seven minutes. Essentially, he played a lot like Rory Best - albeit without the white scrum-cap and the dodgy throws. 

You just have to admire this player, his toughness matched by some delicate touches. When Ireland were desperately in need of leadership, he provided it, lasting 77 minutes.

Put in some big moments in the first half, doing the unglamourous stuff well, making key tackles in periods when Scotland were threatening to nip across for a try. Will it go down as his best ever display for Ireland? No, but on this day, it was enough to help Ireland secure the win.

A quiet leader, putting in some big moments in the final 10 miniutes when Ireland were hanging on - one tackle in particular proving crucial. Still, he was not at his best.

Big first half when he made a charging run to ease the pressure Ireland were under. Also produced a crucial turnover on 39 minutes to save a certain try. Late on, as Scotland pressed, his 79th minute turnover secured the victory and secured his man of the match award.

His try-saving tackle on Sam Johnson in the 24^th minute was vital - his contributions at the business end of the game even more significant. 

Made an immediate impact with a second-minute turnover after the Scots had applied some early pressure and then, dispiritingly, his debut ended just two minutes later, when he was forced to leave the field with a head injury.