Ireland v Scotland: Famous Five

Scotland and Ireland have enjoyed some titantic tussles over the years, but the ‘noughties’ have been all about the men in green – with four wins from five Six Nations outings. We take a closer look.

February 2000: ‘The Day Of The Debutants’
Ireland 44 Scotland 22, Lansdowne Road
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Malcolm O’Kelly, Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll, David Humphreys, Keith Wood; Cons: Ronan O’Gara 2, Humphreys 3; Pens: O’Gara 2, Humphreys
Scotland: Tries: Kenny Logan, Glenn Metcalfe, George Graham; Cons: Logan 2; Pen: Logan

Five debutants and a fitting result as Warren Gatland’s Ireland kick-started their millennium campaign – following that’ 50-18 loss in Twickenham a fortnight earlier – with a five-try victory.

The result – which still stands as Ireland’s biggest score in the fixture – was founded on tries by Malcolm O’Kelly – his first international score – Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll, David Humphreys and captain Keith Wood – with Humphreys grabbing 12 points in as many minutes as a second-half replacement for first-timer Ronan O’Gara.

Gatland’s side only held a 13-10 buffer at the break, after shipping an early try to Kenny Logan.

Horgan’s try a minute after the restart began the rout, with Humphreys’ 60-yard sprint for his own one – after Gregor Townsend had lost the ball near the Irish 22 – the pick of the bunch.

Late tries from Glenn Metcalfe and substitute George Graham saved some pride for Ian McGeechan’s visitors.

Trivia: With O’Gara, Horgan, Peter Stringer, John Hayes and Simon Easterby making their international bows – Ireland rampaged to their first win over the Scots since 1988.

Ireland: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, M Mullins, D Hickie; R O’Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, K Wood (Capt), J Hayes, M Galwey, M O’Kelly, S Easterby, K Dawson, A Foley.

Replacements: F Sheahan, J Fitzpatrick, J Davidson, T Brennan, G Easterby, D Humphreys, R Henderson.

September 2001: Foot-and-Mouth Fumble’
Scotland 32 Ireland 10, Murrayfield
Scorers: Scotland: Tries: Budge Poutney, Tom Smith, John Leslie, Andrew Henderson; Cons: Chris Paterson 2, Gregor Townsend; Pens: Paterson 2
Ireland: Try: Girvan Dempsey; Con: David Humphreys; Pen: Humphreys

Postponed, and sucker-punched. Gatland’s Ireland came to Edinburgh with dreams of a possible Grand Slam, but the four-try Scots effectively handed the Six Nations title to England – despite an heroic 20-14 win for the men-in-green against the auld enemy’ in October.

The famed Foot-and-Mouth’ championship saw the Irish off the boil at Murrayfield as a Budge Poutney-skippered home side ran in four tries.

Fly-half Ronan O’Gara had an off-day with the boot, scoring his first from four attempts after 50 minutes – Gatland’s men were 17-0 down at the break.

A late consolation from Girvan Dempsey did little to boost the Irish as Tom Smith, John Leslie and Andrew Henderson made havoc against a laboured defence.

Trivia: Geordan Murphy tore his hamstring after 22 minutes in the game, and endured an infamous leg break in the 2003 World Cup warm-up game at the same venue.

Ireland: G Dempsey; G Murphy, S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, D Hickie; R O’Gara, G Easterby; P Clohessy, K Wood (Capt), J Hayes, J Davidson, M O’Kelly, S Easterby, K Dawson, A Foley.

Replacements: P Stringer, D Humphreys, K Maggs, F Sheahan, E Byrne, G Longwell, D Wallace.

March 2002: ‘O’Driscoll And Ireland Back To Their Best’
Ireland 43 Scotland 22, Lansdowne Road
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Brian O’Driscoll 3, Shane Horgan, Simon Easterby; Cons: David Humphreys 2, Ronan O’Gara; Pens: Humphreys 4
Scotland: Try: Martin Leslie; Con: Brendan Laney; Pens: Laney 5

Ireland: G Dempsey; S Horgan; K Maggs, B O’Driscoll, D Hickie; D Humphreys, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (Capt), M O’Kelly, E Miller, D Wallace, A Foley.
Replacements: S Byrne, P Wallace, G Longwell, S Easterby, G Easterby, J Kelly, R O’Gara.

February 2003: Humph The Record-Breaker’
Scotland 6 Ireland 36, Murrayfield
Scorers: Scotland: Pens: Gordon Ross 2
Ireland: Tries: Denis Hickie, Geordan Murphy, David Humphreys; Cons: Humphreys 3; Pens: Humphreys 5

Ireland laid the ghost of eight winless trips to Murrayfield as fly-half David Humphreys grabbed a match record 26 points for a first win in Edinburgh since 1985.

An all-round excellent day for O’Sullivan’s saw Victor Costello top the tackle count with 16 hits, captain Brian O’Driscoll dragged the visitors clear with ten carries and Humphreys had an eight-from-nine record from place kicks.

Denis Hickie’s first half try paved the way for the win and substitute Geordan Murphy’s 65th-minute effort – from all of 70 yards – a Humphreys’ own try (pictured, above) five minutes later capped a thunderous display.

Trivia: Ten of Saturday’s Ireland starters took part in the 2003 – with Humphreys only in because of a midweek injury to Ronan O’Gara. The victory also saw the Irish chalk up seven straight wins for the first time.

Ireland: G Dempsey, S Horgan, B O’Driscoll (Capt), K Maggs, D Hickie; D Humphreys, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes, G Longwell, M O’Kelly, V Costello, K Gleeson, A Foley.
Replacements: F Sheahan, M Horan, L Cullen, A Quinlan, G Easterby, P Burke, G Murphy.

March 2004: Crowing Glory For D’Arcy’
Ireland 37 Scotland 16, Lansdowne Road
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Gordon D’Arcy, Geordan Murphy, David Wallace, Peter Stringer; Cons: Ronan O’Gara 3; Pens: O’Gara 2
Scotland: Try: Allister Hogg; Con: Chris Paterson; Pens: Paterson 2

Scotland made it tough – especially with Paterson and Dan Parks picking off the top-carry awards – but in the end, Ireland could not be denied a superb end to a Triple Crown Championship.

A try-double from Gordon D’Arcy brought to a close a stunning first Six Nations for the then 24-year-old.

D’Arcy and Murphy first half tries set the Irish up for a 16-9 half-time lead, but Ali Hogg’s 48th-minute touch down brought the 42,750 crowd down to earth as Matt Williams’ men leveled it up.

The home side – already conquerors of Wales, England and Italy – powered clear in the second as David Wallace – on a rare start – Peter Stringer and D’Arcy again, crossed the Scottish whitewash for the 25th win of coach O’Sullivan’s two-year 36-game reign.

Trivia: The win saw Ireland claim their first Triple Crown for 19 years, on a day when D’Arcy’s centre partner lined out for his 50th cap.

Ireland: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll (Capt), G D’Arcy, G Murphy; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes, M O’Kelly, P O’Connell, S Easterby, D Wallace, A Foley.
Replacements: F Sheahan, M Horan, D O’Callaghan, V Costello, D Humphreys, G Easterby, K Maggs.