Ireland vs Scotland LIVE: Result and latest reaction from Autumn Nations Cup

Follow the latest updates from the third-place play-off at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland celebrate after Keith Earls score his second try of the match against Scotland (PA)

Follow the latest updates as Ireland take on Scotland in the battle to claim third in the Autumn Nations Cup as Finals Weekend continues.

After Georgia and Fiji raised the curtain on today’s action, it’s the turn of the two group runners-up to take centre stage in the third-place play-off. It’s of course not the game that either wanted to be in, with Ireland coming unstuck against England earlier in the tournament while Scotland lost their decider to the French, but both sides have signalled their intent to end the year on a high with the Six Nations just around the corner.

Ireland will be led by returning captain Johnny Sexton who has recovered from a hamstring strain suffered in the opening game against Wales, while Scotland turn to debutant fly-half Jaco van der Welt in the hope of finding a replacement for injured duo Finn Russell and Adam Hastings. Follow the live updates below.

Ireland vs Scotland key points

• Ireland 31-16 Scotland
• Earls scores opening try of the match
• Scotland reduced to 14 men after Duncan Taylor sin-binned
• Healy adds second early in the second half
• Earls adds his second to assert commanding lead
• Scotland respond through Van der Merwe’s solo effort

[5 December 2020 18:15 · Jack de Menezes]

65 mins: Wales 24-18 Italy

Gareth Davies makes a twinkle-toed half-break to dance through the defence and Wales are into range, but they spill the ball five metres out through North and Italy are able to clear. They kick for distance to Sheedy who chances a drop-goal effort from distance … and the less said about that the better.

[5 December 2020 18:13 · Jack de Menezes]

63 mins: Wales 24-18 Italy

An unusual sight: Alun Wyn Jones heads off the pitch and goes straight down the tunnel with what looks to be an injury. With Cory Hill already on for Rowlands, Aaron Wainwright will be needed in the second row.

[5 December 2020 18:12 · Jack de Menezes]

62 mins: Wales 24-18 Italy

Italy cough up the ball in contact as it’s stripped out, and Wales then win the penalty with the ruck sealed off as Wales looked to challenge.

[5 December 2020 18:10 · Jack de Menezes]

60 mins: Wales 24-18 Italy

There’s another flare-up between the players as Rees-Zammit takes out Garbisi in the air, although Varney has completely changed his line on the approach to block the Welsh wing and has contributed to the contact there. It goes in Italy’s favour though, and Barnes warns both sides that after the latest fracas, the next guilty party will be going to the sin-bin. Garbisi meanwhile kicks to touch inside the 22.

[5 December 2020 18:07 · Jack de Menezes]

59 mins: Wales 24-18 Italy

It’s Faletau and Tipuric yet again. The back-row forwards are having a stormer, and Faletau makes the initial break before finding the flanker on his left shoulder. His offload is perfect, and Tipuric in turn releases replacement scrum-half Gareth Davies, who has the gas to run home from some 35m out to put Wales back in front - with Sheedy excellently converting from out wide.

[5 December 2020 18:05 · Jack de Menezes]

58 mins: Wales 22-18 Italy

TRY FOR WALES!

[5 December 2020 18:03 · Jack de Menezes]

56 mins: Wales 17-18 Italy

Again Wales falter as Sheedy tries to force it by offloading to Wyn Jones, who knocks it forwards into the hands of Faletau. Barnes says it’s just a knock on, but that’s an obvious offside for me and should probably be an Italian penalty in my book as Faletau caught the ball in front of the replacement prop. Either way, it’s another chance missed by Wales.

[5 December 2020 18:00 · Jack de Menezes]

53 mins: Wales 17-18 Italy

Wales are back to full strength with Adams back from the sin-bin, but they need something to click as Faletau is judged to have passed forwards to Alun Wyn Jones. Italy attack from the scrum, but Wales win the penalty as Jonathan Davies counter rucks beautifully and forced the error out of the Italians., who play the ball on the deck.

[5 December 2020 17:57 · Jack de Menezes]

50 mins: Wales 17-18 Italy

An upset is on the cards here! Italy finally seem to realise that they have the numerical advantage, and they spread the ball left to Ioane before coming all the way right to really stretch Wales. North and Rees-Zammit are the last defenders, and Sperandio manages to suck in the latter before releasing the ball to flanker Johan Meyer who beats the wing on the outside and barges his way through Loyd to score. Garbisi can’t add the conversion but Italy take the lead!

[5 December 2020 17:53 · Jack de Menezes]

49 mins: Wales 17-18 Italy

TRY FOR ITALY!