Injury-Hit Ireland Show Mettle To Dispatch Scots In Second Half

Ireland overcame a stern test from Scotland as second half tries from James Lowe and Jack Conan saw them win a bruising Guinness Six Nations encounter 22-7 at BT Murrayfield.

Andy Farrell’s men coped admirably with a series of injury setbacks – losing Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan and Iain Henderson inside the opening 24 minutes – to set up a Grand Slam decider against England next Saturday (kick-off 5pm).

They will run out at the Aviva Stadium with a four-point lead at the top of the table, the reward for them turning the screw in Edinburgh with those all-important scores from Lowe (56 minutes) and replacement Conan (61).

Captain Jonathan Sexton converted both from out wide, equalling Ronan O’Gara’s Six Nations points record (557) in the process, to give his side crucial breathing space as they ended Scotland’s Triple Crown hopes.

The outcome had been very much in doubt at half-time with the Scots just 8-7 in arrears. Huw Jones’ 16th-minute try cancelled out an early Sexton penalty, before player-of-the-match Mack Hansen squeezed over on the half hour mark.

It was all hands to the pump, Ireland managing to seize control of the scoreboard despite replacement Ronan Kelleher’s shoulder injury which saw Josh van der Flier step in as lineout thrower and Cian Healy come on to scrummage at hooker.

The pair’s impressive improvised play led to six lineout balls retained out of nine and a couple of scrum penalty wins. Ireland also ended the game on the front foot, unfortunately losing Garry Ringrose to injury but almost bagging a late bonus point try.

The visitors had the Scottish lineout under pressure early on, James Ryan stealing one throw and Doris leaping athletically to claim a quickly-taken one to the rear.

Sheehan rumbled over the whitewash just a phase later, but the try was ruled out as his opposite number George Turner had used a new ball to throw in on this occasion.

With Richie Gray forced off through injury, Ryan batted another of Scotland’s lineouts back into Irish hands. A dink through from Ringrose saw Lowe bundle Stuart Hogg into touch just a few metres out from the Scottish line.

Gregor Townsend’s charges avoided leaking a try, hauling Ringrose down short but Sexton took the points on offer in the 12th minute after Finn Russell was caught offside.

Scotland generated the quick ball and momentum they craved through 17 phases, with their lively front row and Hogg bringing them deep into the Irish 22 before Sexton and Ryan smothered Hogg out into touch.

Duhan van der Merwe kept the ball in play from a Conor Murray clearance, though, and Russell and Ben White led some sharp attacking back into the visitors’ 22. It paid off when Jones came on a short line, collecting a Sione Tuipulotu pass to dive over beside the posts.

The centre’s fourth try of the Championship was converted by Russell, and as Ireland’s injury woes deepened with the departure of both Sheehan and Henderson, the action continued at a mile-a-minute pace.

A penalty and a free-kick allowed Scotland to advance back downfield, before Peter O’Mahony and Sexton got their boots to a loose ball in quick succession. Ringrose led the kick chase and it was a vital territory gain for Ireland with White finding touch.

The Six Nations leaders put some promising phases together from the lineout and a goal line drop-out, also using the game’s first completed scrum to carry back into the 22 before they caught Scotland narrow in defence.

Invited forward by replacement Ryan Baird and Ringrose, Hugo Keenan floated a peach of a pass out for Hansen to scamper down the right touchline and score in superb fashion despite van der Merwe’s last-ditch challenge.

The TMO review highlighted Hansen’s nimble finishing skills as the airborne winger grounded the ball while keeping his right leg away from touch. Sexton missed the difficult conversion, with his kick falling wide on the near side.

Ireland held onto their 8-7 advantage, Keenan putting in an important tackle as van der Merwe hurtled towards the Irish line. Lowe and van der Flier were first in at the breakdown to win a clearing penalty.

A slick midfield move involving Bundee Aki, Conan and Lowe had the latter surging through from halfway. He linked with Ringrose, but two penalties later, Ireland’s lineout malfunctioned five metres out with Kelleher’s shoulder injury impacting his throw.

Indeed, it was Scotland who were on the cusp of a try right on the stroke of half-time. Tuipulotu hammered it up from a lineout in the Irish 22, and it took a combination of Andrew Porter and Lowe to bundle Turner into touch near the left corner.

Van der Flier showed his versatility by stepping in as Ireland’s lineout thrower for the second half. They pinned the Scots back with a Ringrose chip and chase, but an increase in turnovers and handling errors meant neither side could really threaten.

Hansen began to wield more influence, picking up a turnover penalty and snatching up a second ball at the breakdown. Van der Flier was also providing a solid return from his throws, finding Ryan at a key lineout inside Ireland’s 22.

Healy played his part in gaining a 54th-minute scrum penalty and van der Flier connected with O’Mahony at the front of the subsequent lineout, the freshly-introduced Jamison Gibson-Park then putting the ball skywards and Hansen hoovered up his kick inside the Scottish 22.

Suddenly a try was on the cards thanks to some high-quality ball retention and physical phases from the forwards. Armed with a penalty advantage, Gibson-Park flung a pass wide for a leaping Lowe to collect and finish smartly past Kyle Steyn.

Sexton drew over the conversion with a classy strike, putting the men in green more than a converted score ahead. A barnstorming run from Lowe, who was fed by a long Hansen pass, saw him hand off Steyn and clip a kick through that had Scotland right back on their own try-line.

Keenan’s pace in chasing down van der Merwe meant the home side could not make much yardage with their clearance kick. Following more gainline success from the pack, Ireland were clinical in putting away try number two.

Hansen’s nicely-delayed pass, coupled with Keenan’s presence in tying in defenders, gave Conan enough space to touch down one-handed in the right corner, past the covering van der Merwe.

Once more Sexton was able to nail the conversion from close to the touchline, and as Scotland looked to respond off a lineout of their own, Ryan reached in for a timely steal. A forward pass from Matt Fagerson spoiled another Scottish attack.

Time was not on Scotland’s side and a spell of messy scrums added to their frustration. In fact it was Ireland who, despite a long stoppage for Ringrose’s head injury, nearly capped their performance with a bonus point try.

They had a few bites at it during the closing stages, handling errors foiling both Ryan, who was a pass away from putting Lowe over at the end of a sparkling counter attack, and Baird. Healy also fluffed his lines at a tap penalty.

Three tries to one is how it finished, the Centenary Quaich and the Championship’s top spot retained, with a thrilling tilt at Grand Slam glory to come on St. Patrick’s weekend.