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 15:31 · Jack de Menezes]

50 mins: Ireland 23-9 Scotland

TRY FOR IRELAND!

[5 December 2020 15:30 · Jack de Menezes]

49 mins: Ireland 18-9 Scotland

Ireland are starting to shift through the gears as they win another penalty with Gray offside, and Sexton turns down the shot at goal to kick to the corner as they go for the jugular.

[5 December 2020 15:27 · Jack de Menezes]

44 mins: Ireland 18-9 Scotland

The replays show Cian Healy picking from the base and, with the help of Herring, Doris and Roux, he powers over to score. That could really suck the wind out of Scotland’s sails, as Sexton adds the simple conversion.

[5 December 2020 15:26 · Jack de Menezes]

44 mins: Ireland 16-9 Scotland

TRY FOR IRELAND!

[5 December 2020 15:25 · Jack de Menezes]

44 mins: Ireland 11-9 Scotland

Doris goes close as he slips out of a tackle, and Ireland are camped at the base of the uprights in a pile of bodies … Healy goes and Ireland are celebrating … we go to the TMO again!

[5 December 2020 15:23 · Jack de Menezes]

42 mins: Ireland 11-9 Scotland

Scotland safely negotiate the start of the half and find touch, and Taylor returns to restore them to a full compliment. However, it hasn’t changed the flow of the game as a net Sexton kicks pins Hogg deep, with Earls and Henshaw combining to drive the full-back into touch and give the Irish a big chance in the Scottish 22.

[5 December 2020 15:21 · Jack de Menezes]

41 mins: Ireland 11-9 Scotland

Ireland kick off to get the second half under way!

[5 December 2020 15:13 · Jack de Menezes]

Half-time: Ireland 11-9 Scotland

Despite the relative lack of try-scoring opportunities, I have to say that was quite an intriguing half of rugby there. Scotland were clearly in the ascendancy for the opening 20 minutes, with Van der Walt taking three of his four shots at goal after Sexton’s early miss, but they never really looked like scoring a try and that proved the problem.

Having kept their try line intact, Ireland grew in confidence and the yellow card to Taylor for deliberately blocking Aki’s pass with a huge overlap proved the catalyst for the swing in balance, with Sexton’s creativity and Earls’ refusal to let the opportunity go resulting in the late try at the end of the half that has put the home side in front.

[5 December 2020 15:06 · Jack de Menezes]

40 mins: Ireland 11-9 Scotland

Ireland safely negotiate the restart and find touch to bring an end to a half that has really swung around!

Ireland 11-9 Scotland

[5 December 2020 15:05 · Jack de Menezes]

38 mins: Ireland 11-9 Scotland

That’s incredibly smart stuff from Sexton! He kicks to the blindside off the inside of his boot, and Henshaw soars over the head of Graham that forces the Scotland wing to knock the ball forwards, which in turn allows Keith Earls to react first and dive on it to score the first try of the match. Sexton misses the conversion though, so the lead is only two points, and to add to things Henderson is going off injured with Quinn Roux on in the second row.