Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog on a pivotal day for Andy Farrell and Ireland. Having lost their opening two games of this championship, Ireland’s bounceback win against Italy came with an asterisk attached. It was Italy, after all. Everyone else in the Six Nations beats them.
Today, therefore, provides a more realistic assessment of Ireland’s standing. There was nothing definitive about the narrow defeats to Wales and France – a red card and series of injuries to key players being factors you cannot dismiss – the repeated pattern of Ireland failing to convert chances being issues that Farrell and his coaching staff have to address.
Now it’s Scotland, a team Ireland have regularly beaten since 2017, when Joe Schmidt moaned about a bus being late arriving at Murrayfield. The Scots have beaten some good teams in the last five years – England at Twickenham, Wales away, France at home, Australia home and away – but they have also lost to Fiji, Japan and USA.
The much hyped Finn Russell is a game-changer – in that he is as liable to throw an intercept as he is a defence splitting pass. Stuart Hogg, well he’s different. He’s a man in form, a winner. Will he be a winner today, though? The inclination is to say no, that Ireland will sneak another victory. But, for the first time in over 20 years, we enter this game genuinely believing it to be a 50/50 clash. Our money is on Ireland by a few points – but let us know what you think below.
Here are your teams for today’s encounter at Murrayfield.
Scotland
15. Stuart Hogg (captain)
14. Sean Maitland
13. Chris Harris
12. Sam Johnson
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell
9. Ali Price
1. Rory Sutherland
2. George Turner
3. WP Nel
4. Scott Cummings
5. Jonny Gray
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Matt Fagerson
Replacements:
16. David Cherry
17. Jamie Bhatti
18. Simon Berghan
19. Grant Gilchrist
20. Nick Haining
21. Scott Steele
22. Huw Jones
23. Darcy Graham
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Keith Earls
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Cian Healy
2. Rob Herring
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Iain Henderson
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Will Connors
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ryan Baird
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Billy Burns
23. Jordan Larmour
Referee: Romain Poite [FFR].
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal [FFR] and Andrea Piardi [FIR].
TMO: Alexandre Ruiz [FFR].
In need of some further reading before kick-off? Well, check out Murray Kinsella’s big-match preview here.
The lack of crowd means home advantage is reduced, of course, but the Scots have confidence after their stirring win against England earlier in this Six Nations. They did lose to Wales in round two but their cause wasn’t helped by a red card for Zander Fagerson – even if the sending off shouldn’t gloss over their deficiencies in giving up a strong first-half lead.
Should you be keen on something a little bit different then you will love Ciaran Kennedy’s story about Ireland’s trip to Fiji in 1976 – a cracking read, which you can look at here and thirdly there are the talking points ahead of today’s big game.
Game building nicely here. Eight minutes to kick off and it is safe to say that Scotland are up for it.
Scotland are ready.
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 14, 2021
Will they bounce back after their defeat against Wales? 👀#GuinnessSixNations #SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/fbga7eVlPS
And we are up and running.
2 minutes Scotland 0-o Ireland
A really fine start by Ireland; controlling the tempo and possession as they move the ball deep into the Scotland 22. Fine carries by Lowe, Furlong, Stander and Healy. They win a penalty.
PENALTY, IRELAND (SEXTON)
3 minutes – Scotland 0-3 Ireland
Sexton knocks it over from straight in front of the posts.
5 minutes Well, that was a decent start. Even more encouraging is the fact that Ireland regained possession from the restart. Scotland, finally, get their hands on the ball just shy of the fifth minute but they concede a scrum.
Sexton getting treated for a bloody nose. Scotland have suffered a metaphorical smack in the snooter in those opening five minutes.
So first scrum of the day.
7 minutes Scotland 0-3 Ireland
Scrum is solid, play moves through the hands and then gets to James Lowe who gets shoved into touch. Uninspiring to say the least by Ireland.
8 minutes – TRY IRELAND (HENSHAW)
10 minutes – Scotland 0-8 Ireland
Well, if the attack of the scrum was disappointing, who cares now? From the resulting Scottish line-out, Ireland thieve possession and they set in motion the tried and trusted phase-building game-plan that Joe Schmidt perfected. A couple of kicks into the Edinburgh sky are not dealt with by Stuart Hogg – the second of his mistakes leading to the ball spilling loose and Robbie Henshaw reacting quickest to touch down.
Sexton missed the conversion but with an eight-point lead, Ireland will hardly care.
11 minutes penalty to Scotland
Tadhg Furlong penalised at the breakdown
12 minutes PENALTY SCOTLAND (RUSSELL)
12 minutes Scotland 3-8 Ireland
So Scotland’s first attack results in their first score, a penalty from Finn Russell after a decent piece of play. Furlong was rightly penalised for a breakdown infringement and Russell’s kick was easily slotted.
13 minutes – a break from Finn Russell caused a bit of panic in the Ireland defence but a combination of James Ryan and James Lowe led to the Scottish out-half spilling the ball
16 minutes Scotland 3-8 Ireland
Ireland’s scrum is solid but the attack is static – James Ryan spills the ball on the floor and the third scrum of the match is called by referee, Poite.
17 minutes Cian Healy 1-0 WP Nel
Scrum penalty awarded to Ireland – but Sexton misses touch.
21 minutes Scotland 3-8 Ireland
Opportunity missed by Ireland, firstly when they turned down the chance to kick for goal – an irritating habit that too many Irish teams make these days – secondly when Jamison Gibson-Park backs himself to make the tryline with a sniping break when he really should have taken a more conservative option.
A combination of Watson and Ritchie interrupt Gibson-Park’s plans. Scotland regain possession. The danger is over.
23 minutes
Sexton’s attempted pop pass to Hugo Keenan leads to a Scottish turnover – the ball swiftly moves downfield and Keenan, after recovering his position, clears. The throw is Scotland’s, though – just inside the Ireland 22.
Thus far, Ireland have been the better team but five points is not a sufficient return for their dominance.
25 minutes If there is one thing Ireland have done really well in this championship, it is their ability to pickpocket the opposition’s line-out. Three out of four Scotland throws have been nicked by Ireland’s pack so far.
Tadhg Furlong has just unleashed his inner Phil Bennett – stepping two players. My day is made.
Finn Russell has been stepped by a tighthead. Hilarious.
28 minutes Russell has touched down
The TMO will check this. Likely to have been a knock-on by Stuart Hogg
27 minutes 27 seconds Scotland 8- 8 Ireland
TRY SCOTLAND (RUSSELL)
29 minutes – Scotland 10-8 Ireland
Shocking play from Ireland – coughing up possession far too cheaply, Garry Ringrose’s kick is charged down by Hogg – who kicks on – while James Lowe’s failure to gather the ball is costly, as Russell follows up to score.
He also adds the conversion. Scotland are ahead.
32 minutes Scotland 10-8 Ireland
Scotland win a scrum penalty. Nel 1-1 Healy. Russell finds touch.
33 minutes - Ireland have just claimed a fourth Scottish line-out. From the resulting kickchase, Keith Earls – helped by Tadhg Beirne – win a penalty for Ireland. Sexton is going for the posts.
34 minutes PENALTY IRELAND (SEXTON)
Scotland 10-11 Ireland
Sexton knocks it over from a tricky enough angle.
35 minutes – great work from Keith Earls; Ireland regain possession from the restart, Earls wins a penalty at the breakdown.
37 minutes – Scotland 10-11 Ireland
Penalty awarded to Scotland after Beirne is pinged for an infringement from an Irish throw. Russell is going for the posts.
Russell’s kick goes wide, Ireland still lead by a point.
39 minutes Scotland 10-11 Ireland
Scrum to Ireland after Earls – again – shows bravery in the air. The winger has been excellent for Ireland in the first-half. James Lowe, his colleague on the opposing wing, has been poor.
40 minutes: SCOTLAND 10-11 IRELAND
A strange first-half, frustrating to watch from an Irish perspective, after a bright start led to yet another period where Ireland drifted out of it which has become a recurring problem. Yet Ireland have just won a penalty within Sexton’s range – Ringrose making a fine carry. The chance is there to extend the lead.
PENALTY IRELAND (SEXTON)
HALF-TIME – SCOTLAND 10-14 IRELAND
Sexton nails the penalty and Ireland head in for their cuppa with a four-point lead as Sexton moves beyond 900 points in his international career.
During the break, we’ve got a special giveaway for you…
Here is a look back at the first-half highlights.
First, Tadhg Furlong. Seriously, big fella – you shouldn’t do that to an out-half – think of the man’s family.
Stick it on repeat 🔥😍
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 14, 2021
Tadhg Furlong has got moves. #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvIRL pic.twitter.com/dFkqeval5v
This is the try from Robbie Henshaw.
What a start for Ireland! ☘️
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 14, 2021
Henshaw pounces for the score. #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvIRL pic.twitter.com/VSsn62XqXb
Here are the stats.
What’s your analysis of this one!? 🤔#GuinnessSixNations Stats #PoweredbyAWS! https://t.co/NuMS2DZHvv
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 14, 2021
Ouch.
Martin Johnson on the beeb just outlining a massive open goal miss by Ireland before JGP gets turned over pic.twitter.com/yC4RFutWBt
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) March 14, 2021
42 minutes – Penalty to Ireland, Iain Henderson wins it at the breakdown and Sexton has kicked to touch to set Ireland up in good field position.
43 minutes Garry Ringrose gets isolated – and Fagerson and Ritchie defend cleverly and win a penalty.
45 minutes Scotland 10-14 Ireland
Superb take by Keenan in the air. The game is currently naff to watch. Ireland win a penalty – Herring’s pressure at the breakdown leads to it. Sexton is kicking to the corner rather than at the posts.
Another penalty awarded to Ireland – this time at the line-out. Herring’s throw was superb. Sexton, because of this perhaps, kicks again to the corner
TRY IRELAND (BEIRNE)
49 minutes – Scotland 10-21 Ireland
Risk gets its reward. Herring throws deep, Ireland claim possession; they go through the phases and after four pick and goes, Beirne gets across, as try is awarded by Poite.
A tale of two tens.
Ireland’s Johnny Sexton.
And Scotland’s Finn Russell.
Penalty awarded to Ireland, 53 minutes played.
Sexton is going for the posts knowing if he nails this, which he should, then it is a 14-point game.
55 minutes PENALTY IRELAND (Sexton)
Scotland 10-24 Ireland
Sexton lands a straightforward penalty and Ireland should see this home from here.
Kilcoyne and Porter are in for Healy and Furlong.
58 minutes
Penalty to Scotland, Porter penalised for not releasing. Russell is going for the corner, knowing they need tries. He misses touch. I just don’t see what everyone else does about this young fella. Apparently he is a sensation.
60 minutes – Scotland 15-24 Ireland TRY SCOTLAND (Jones)
As we move into the final quarter, Scotland have given themselves a lifeline, Hogg making a superb break – James Lowe exposed again defensively as Huw Jones goes over.
Hogg takes the conversion – rather than Russell – and suddenly it is a one-score game.
61 minutes – Scotland 17-24 Ireland
There is a strong chance that we may hear Ireland players refer to ‘work-ons’ and ‘learnings’ in relation to the two tries they have conceded. Awful stuff from them each time.
Finn Russell is heading off for a HIA. Hogg is going in at out-half.
65 minutes – Scotland 17-24 Ireland
Ronan Kelleher has come in for Rob Herring. His first job is to throw into the line-out. Jack Conan has come in for Beirne. Kelleher finds his man.
66 minutes – Scotland 17-24 Ireland
Lowe has just thrown a pass into touch. There is not much else to say about that.
69 minutes – Scotland 17-24 Ireland
Robbie Henshaw has just put in a huge hit on Duhan van der Merwe. Kelleher’s throw is not straight, however – and Scotland have a scrum. They swiftly move the ball into the Ireland 22 and win a penalty.
71 minutes – Scotand 17-24 Ireland
Scotland have a penalty – as James Ryan leaves the field for a HIA.
71 minutes
Scotland tap and go and lay siege to the Irish line. Ireland defend well – especially Keenan. But the Scots have another penalty after an offside.
Hamish Watson appears to have scored a try and we are going to the TMO to check whether he has got it down.
TRY WATSON
Scotland 24-24 Ireland
Hogg with the conversion, game on with five minutes to go. Ryan Baird has just won a penalty for Ireland.
76 minutes – PENALTY IRELAND (SEXTON)
The angle is tight but from the left touchline, Sexton knocks it over and Ireland have regained the lead.
77 minutes Scotland 24-27 Ireland
Henshaw claims the restart. Time to seal the deal, chaps.
Keith Earls collects Gibson-Park’s kick. Just brilliant play from the winger.
78 minutes
Scotland kick to the sky, Keenan claims it, Ireland have the ball ……and Gibson-Park kicks it into the air and Scotland have it again.
Ireland revert to the tried and trusted pick and go option. And then kick it away. AGAIN!!!!
79 minutes, 30 seconds
Hogg tries a break, gets nowhere
FULL TIME SCOTLAND 24-27 IRELAND
Robbie Henshaw kicks it out and Ireland have a victory.
Well, they certainly know how to make life hard for themselves. Ireland had a 14-point lead and then, with five minutes left, they were level. Up stepped Johnny Sexton to nail the winning score.
So much was good about that performance – the spirit to win; the nerves of Sexton, the display of Keith Earls, the coaching work of Paul O’Connell.
But how did Scotland get back into that game? Ireland fell asleep. James Lowe’s defending was awful, Ireland’s addiction to box-kicking is just baffling and Ireland’s defence is soft. Still, they won. England didn’t do that against the Scots. A flawed victory it may be, but still, it’s a win.
