Ireland 28
Scotland 6
IRELAND EVENTUALLY BROKE down stiff Scottish resistance to score three tries in a 28-6 home win. The visitors held firm for 40 minutes but as soon as Andrew Trimble snuck in for the opening try an Ireland win never looked in doubt.
Jamie Heaslip was denied a first half try by a video replay but made no mistake after the break following a rumbling, rolling maul. Fullback Rob Kearney was at his evasive best in the closing stages to seal a win that moves Ireland to the top of the Six Nations standings after the opening weekend.
The first scoring opportunity of the match fell to the visitors, on four minutes, when Chris Henry was penalised at the breakdown. Greig Laidlaw’s kick from 40 metres out was straight in front of the posts but he struck the lefthand post. Ireland owned the following 10 minutes and their dangerous rolling maul was just about kept at bay. When Scottish captain was penalised on 13 minutes, Jonny Sexton made no mistake from a similar distance and tighter angle.
Scotland responded well and were soon level, on 18 minutes, as Sexton was penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown. Laidlaw slotted over to make in 3-3 but the home team edged back ahead three minutes later. Irish scrum-half Conor Murray remarked, midweek, that Scotland play on the very limits of offside and referee Craig Joubert punished them for drifting beyond that line. From 40 metres out, Sexton made it 6-3.
Scott Johnson’s men were beginning to grow in confidence and Stuart Hogg forced Ireland into a 5m lineout after a smart grubber. The Scots were camped in the Irish 22 from minutes in and around the half-hour mark and it took Peter O’Mahony, Dave Kearney and Conor Murray to prevent David Denton from scoring as he peeled away from a ruck and looked certain to score.
Scotland lost Lions utility back Sean Maitland to injury after 32 minutes but pressed on and posed a myriad of defensive questions for the hosts. Luckily for Ireland, O’Mahony was in determined mood and won a vital turnover. The home crowd roared into life on 36 minutes as Sexton made a superb break straight up the centre. He flung a superb pass that found captain Jamie Heaslip, who was charging up the left flank. The No.8 was dragged into touch a split second before dotting down and the score was ruled out.
Ireland were undettered and dragged Scottish defenders into defending a maul before spreading play wide to the right for Andrew Trimble to score his 13th international try. Sexton missed the conversion but the 11-3 half-time scoreline eased home worries.
Scotland started the second-half in positive fashion and were rewarded on 42 minutes when Laidlaw’s penalty reduced the arrears. Ireland answered back emphatically five minutes later when Heaslip dived over to ground the ball after another excellent Irish maul.
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Sexton added the extras and Scotland were beginning to wilt. Irish pressure told on 56 minutes as Jim Hamilton was penalised and Sexton made it 21-6.
The final try of the game arrived with eight minutes left on the clock. Henry made a great break into the Scottish 22 and the rest was all down to Rob Kearney. The fullback broke two tackles to dive over and add a flourish to the scoreboard.
Dave Kearney almost scored a spectacular try in stoppage time but the TMO did not go in his favour. Wales should offer a sterner test next Saturday but Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will be happy with his team’s start the tournament.
Scorers for IrelandTries: Trimble, Heaslip, R Kearney
Penalties: Sexton (3)
Conversions: Sexton (2)
Scorers for Scotland
Penalties: Laidlaw (2)
Ireland: R Kearney, A Trimble , B O’Driscoll (F McFadden), L Marshall, D Kearney; J Sexton (P Jackson), C Murray (I Boss): C Healy (J McGrath), R Best (S Cronin), M Ross (M Moore); D Toner (I Henderson), D Tuohy, P O’Mahony (T O’Donnell), C Henry, J Heaslip (Capt.).Scotland: S Hogg, S Maitland (M Evans), A Dunbar, D Taylor, S Lamont (M Scott); D Weir, G Laidlaw (C Cusiter): R Grant (A Dickinson), R Ford (P MacArthur), M Low, T Swinson, J Hamilton (R Gray); R Wilson, K Brown (Capt.) (J Beattie), D Denton.
Referee: Craig Joubert.
