Scotland vs Ireland LIVE rugby: Final score and result from Six Nations game today
Ireland took another step towards the Grand Slam
Wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe scored a try each for Ireland as flyhalf Johnny Sexton became the joint leading scorer in Six Nations history following a pulsating 22-7 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Replacement number eight Jack Conan scored Ireland’s third try as they turned up the heat in the second half despite the loss of both hookers to injury, leading to flanker Josh van der Flier throwing in at the line-out and three props in the front row of the scrum.
Scotland were in the game at halftime as they trailed 8-7 having scored a try through centre Huw Jones, which will give them some confidence heading into the Rugby World Cup where they face Ireland and South Africa in their pool with only two teams to advance to the quarter-finals.
Ireland, who have claimed the Triple Crown and have their sights now set on a Grand Slam, lead the Six Nations table with 19 points from four games, four ahead of second-placed France.
They host England in their final game next Saturday while Scotland welcome Italy.
Ireland on brink of Grand Slam after beating Scotland at Murrayfield
Ireland kept themselves on course for a first Grand Slam since 2018 as they ended Scotland’s Triple Crown dream with an impressive second-half performance in Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations showdown at BT Murrayfield.
A tightly-contested first half in which Huw Jones and Mack Hansen exchanged tries ended with the visitors leading 8-7.
But the world’s top-ranked side – who lost four players to injury during the match – scored 14 points without reply after the break as James Lowe and substitute Jack Conan touched down either side of the hour mark, paving the way for an ultimately comfortable 22-7 victory in which Johnny Sexton became the joint-leading points scorer in the tournament’s history.
The Irish will secure the Grand Slam if they defeat England in Dublin on Saturday, while the Scots – after opening with back-to-back wins – go into their final match at home to Italy with little to play for other than pride.
PA
Ireland on brink of Grand Slam after beating Scotland at Murrayfield
The visitors put in a brilliant second-half display to win 22-7.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell speaks to the BBC
“That was an amazing test match for all sorts of reasons. It was a bit of organised chaos at half time but there was a smile on everyone’s face. There was controversy all over that game right from the word go. We lost Caelan, Dan came off as well, and then Iain Henderson. It was a monumental effort.
“That’s what the boys expect from each other. They’ve earned the right to take it to the last weekend. It was immense from Josh. The lad can do anything at this moment in time. Cian backed himself in the scrum, but how we looked after one another is the most impressive thing.
“We’ve got players that got sent home who were watching today and they will meet up with us tomorrow night and we go again. We’ve got a good squad. If we get any more injuries during the week we might have to look at Old Belvedere’s Under-12s! It is one hell of a weekend to look forward to on St Paddy’s weekend.”
Winning skipper Johnny Sexton reacts
“To have Cian Healy come on and play hooker is an amazing feat,” the Ireland fly half says to the BBC. “Some good management at half time from Andy [Farrell] and Paul [O’Connell] because it was chaos figuring out what we were going to do. We knew we could get by at scrum time and we had to use the same move at the lineout.
“We’ve got to just get the bodies back together. What type of team we get out we don’t know. We’ll be playing an England team that will be hurting and will be better than they were yesterday. It wasn’t that long ago that they were in a World Cup final.”
F/T: Scotland 7-22 Ireland
Scotland weren’t too far away, but they must feel that a chance missed given all the disruption Ireland faced. They just lost control of the contest in that second 40 minutes, allowing Ireland to take command and then chasing the game a little too much.
Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie is also grabbed by the BBC for a post-match debrief
“I think that first half we lacked a bit of a clinical edge, created opportunities we didn’t put away. Credit to Ireland in the second half. They put pressure on our breakdown and we didn’t get as many chances.
“They are a very good side. They are number one in the world for a reason. There were a couple of moments in that second half where we let them get momentum and we were on the wrong side of the scoreline.”
Ireland beat Scotland to continue Six Nations grand slam chase
Those injuries will be the worry for Andy Farrell, but the Ireland head coach must be incredibly pleased by how his side managed that second half.
The impressive Mack Hansen speaks to the BBC
“We knew this was going to be probably near our toughest game of the year. The Scottish lads showed up, they really did, it was a proper test match - that’s what we came here for and they delivered.
“We lost some really key players, hopefully they are alright for next week. It just shows how much depth we have. I don’t know if Cian Healy has ever gone in at hooker before in 200 caps, but it shows how versatile we are.”
F/T: Scotland 7-22 Ireland
So the first point of the tournament slips by for Ireland with the failure to find that bonus point score, but that is another mightily impressive win from the grand slam chasers. They had to deal with plenty of issues today, losing three forwards inside the first half-hour and then a second hooker soon after half-time. They march on into that encounter with England next weekend.
Scotland 7-22 Ireland, 80 minutes
Lineout overthrown! Ireland go off in search of a bonus point. Up the right they canter, Mack Hansen kicking ahead...fumbled by Harris, and back in Irish hands!
Through come the forwards, but a knock on means a final score won’t be theirs. The handling error sends us to a close.
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