Key occasions
TRY! Ireland 17 – 6 Scotland (Andrew Porter)
65 minutes. Ireland faucet the penalty underneath the posts and a intelligent little pre-planned transfer has Kelleher popping a go to Porter who forces over to lastly breach this heroic Scotland defensive effort.
Crowley converts.
YELLOW CARD! Ewan Ashman (Scotland)
64 minutes. The sport is opening up, firstly by way of a misplaced ball by Ireland that places Kinghorn on the assault within the Irish half earlier than extra imprecision has Ringrose gathering a unfastened ball and sprinting 5o metres upfield.
The centre is caught, however the males in inexperienced spring into motion and as Scotland give away about 4 penalties as they scramble to defend the part, the ball finds Henshaw to drive over the road. But Redpath is beneath him and does an unbelievable job to carry the ball up!
But somebody has to pay the worth for all these penalties, and it’s the hooker Ashman.
61 minutes. Another assault within the Scotland 5m space and Ireland once more can’t make it pay. They dwelling aspect are responsible of overworking the brief carries earlier than releasing to the backs, and when it lastly will get there the go will not be adequate to Ringrose who fumbles it ahead.
Steve Tandy (Scotland defence coach) appears to be like completely pumped within the coach’s field; and nicely he would possibly, his workforce are doing an unimaginable job.
58 minutes. Ireland are again to profitable a lineout within the Scottish 22 and the inevitable possession slams into the defence who once more can not avoind being offside. The guests have made tons of tackles already and it appears to be like and feels just like the fatigue will inform sooner slightly than later,
56 minutes. A sigh of aid from Scotland because the scrum completes with out incident and Ben White can hoist it to the touch along with his boot. There’s an additional slice of positivity as Fagerson robs the Irish lineout, however they once more mangle their very own good work with some poor passing resulting in a dealing with error and a participant taking part in the ball offside from a ricochet.
54 minutes. A quick transfer off the lineout has Ireland as much as the 5m line and hammering laborious on the door. Nash is off his wing and stepping in the direction of a rating however Christie places in a giant hit to each cease him and prise the ball free. Knock-on!
Scotland will pray this scrum goes loads higher than the final one.
52 minutes. The Scotland scrum is splintered right into a thousand items by an enormous Irish shove and because the mud settles the ball is moved left by way of arms earlier than Nash places a kick in to show van der Merwe round. Scotland handle to safe the ball, however all White can do is use contact on the 22.
50 minutes. Scotland have a primary correct go together with the ball this half and it’s through an ideal run from Kinghorn becoming a member of the road from fullback in the suitable hand 13 channel. They work it again to the left to sub Ashman who’s rattled by a powerful Irish defensive blitz that dislodges the ball and permits Gibson-Park to clear.
Finlay Bealham has changed Tadhg Furlong.
48 minutes. NO TRY! TMO Marius Jonker decides there was separation betwixt ball and arm. It was a really marginal name, it must be mentioned.
Ewan Ashman and Rory Sutherland are on for George Turner and Pierre Schoeman
47 minutes. The noticeable elevating of the ability and tempo continues from Ireland because the phases begin within the 22 from the lineout. Scotland are doing job of overlaying, however they’re going backwards way over within the first half because the power comes down laborious from the inexperienced forwards.
Furlong drives ahead from two metres and extends an arm to floor the ball on the road underneath stress from Fagerson. There’s a component of a bounce to it, so the TMO is taking an extended take a look at it.
44 minutes. In a hideous growth for Scotland, Finn Russell places the ball out on the complete from the kick off to convey extra stress again on. This results in extra phases from Ireland, one other Scotland penalty given away and a inexperienced lineout within the Scottish 22.
PENALTY! Ireland 10 – 6 Scotland
42 minutes. A poor kick from White permits Larmour an opportunity to have run and he units up a good place in the course of Scotland half. From this, the ball is moved left to Lowe who has a rumble up the touchline earlier than offloading to Aki who’s stopped on the 22 for his forwards take over with some carries. The stress is relentless and it forces and infringement from the defence.
Crowley steps up to attract a line underneath begin to the half for Ireland.
SECOND HALF!
Jack Crowley takes his flip to start out a half to get the second intallment underway
Finely poised, this.
Scotland have been the higher aspect most likely, however on type this 12 months Andy Farrell’s half-time discuss could say one thing like “just wait until they fall apart again”. Townsend’s can be, “lads, for the love of God, please play 8o minutes will you?”
“Strong rumours coming from Ireland that this is POM’s last game for his country.” says Olive. “Would explain the tears during the anthem. Announcement to be made at the end of the match apparently”
HALF TIME! Ireland 7 – 6 Scotland
40+3 minutes. The assault appears to be like to be going nowhere as Scotland’s defensive organisation continues to frustrate the house aspect, and finally the ball spills and is put out to finish the half.
40+1 minutes. The ball goes unfastened, which permits Kinghorn in addition and chase his personal kick. Nash covers throughout in his 22 and Kinghorn is excessive along with his deal with as he follows up. It’s a penalty solely because the Ireland winger dropped in top, however the half will proceed through an Irish lineout on midway.
40 minutes. Lowe drifts off his wing to take the ball on first part on an arcing run. SCotland’s defence is as much as the duty and Ireland arrange for some phases round midway because the clock heads into the pink.
38 minutes. The rain is falling steadily now and this causes Ben White to have a fumble of his personal on the base of the ruck to halt Scottish progress.
36 minutes. More disruptive counter-rucking from the guests makes a large number of Gibson-Park’s means to cleanly transfer the ball from the bottom and he spills it ahead. Scotland scrum on midway incoming.
MISSED PENALTY! Ireland 7 – 6 Scotland (Jack Crowley)
33 minutes. Whisper it when you’ve seen this earlier than, however Scotland look broadly the higher workforce right here, however can’t appear to do sufficient to both get by way of Ireland or too typically get out of their very own approach. The newest instance is daft and unforced crossing penalty and Christie will get the timing of his run all fallacious.
It’s a great distance out, however O’Mahony recognises it is a tight outdated sport and asks Crowley to kick it. He fails.
31 minutes. Furlong will get a giant shove on Schoeman on the scrum and the Scottish prop can do nothing however pop up and provides away a penalty. From the lineout Ireland are on the ball across the Scot 22 however a disrupting deal with from Christie and Dempsey dislodges the ball from Van Der Flier. Excellent defence.
28 minutes. McDowall introduces himself to the sport by romping by way of a niche on first part from the scrum with refined step and go. He’s caught finally by a combo of Crowley and Larmour. The place appears to be like promising within the Ireland half, however it fizzles out a bit so White angles a kick to the touch.
25 minutes. The previous couple of minutes has seen Scotland have some pleasure counter-rucking, with Andy Christie outstanding within the effort. That newest drive sends Ireland off the ball sufficient for them to fumble it ahead to offer the guests a scrum simply in their very own half.
22 minutes. Some Scottish possession appears to be like busy however it’s in the end not productive so van der Merwe takes it on himself to have a run. Not a nasty concept in itself, however he runs laterally, largely away from his help and when he’s scragged Van Der Flier clamps on the ball.
That’s two turnover penalties in opposition to the large winger for a lot the identical factor. Have Ireland labored him out?
20 minutes. A ten% improve within the tempo of the motion of the ball by Ireland is sufficient to for them to manoeuvre the ball through a stunning Nash offload to Aki who has a twenty metre stick with it the left. Scotland scramble nicely and because the ball the is labored again inside possession is fumbled by Ireland.
PENALTY! Ireland 7 – 6 Scotland (Finn Russell)
17 minutes. Scotland don’t let that shambles of a attempt deter them and they’re again on the Irish 22 on a penalty benefit after Beirne drifts offside. The phases transfer left, however there’s little or no doing so the ref calls them again.
It’s bang in entrance and Russell doesn’t waste the prospect for extra factors.
TRY! Ireland 7 – 3 Scotland (Dan Sheehan)
13 minutes. This time Scotland catch and drive the lineout earlier than releasing the ball to be cleared, however the kick doesn’t go as far and Henshaw capitalises with a giant carry that catches van der Merwe offside in defence.
Crowley places it within the nook and Scotland do an ideal job of driving the Irish forwards intro contact; however they do a far worse job with their very own lineout, George Turner flinging the ball over Cummins and on to Sheehan who strolls over from 5 metres!
Oh pricey…
Conversion is added.
10 minutes. A probably difficult defensive lineout for Scotland is accomplished with underneath 2% nonsense current; shortly off the highest for Russell to punt clear. Ireland have a number of bumps up on the counter earlier than Lowe boots the ball roughly again to the place Scotland began.
PENALTY! Ireland 0 – 3 Scotland (Finn Russell)
7 minutes. James Lowe claims a excessive ball earlier than being penalised for crawling on the ground after the deal with was accomplished on him.
Russell requires the tee and slots the primary factors of the match.
6 minutes. The place gained from the charge-down is misplaced as a result of some imprecise work in touch permitting McCarthy to tear the ball away. The ball is cleared for a Scotland lineout on midway.
4 minutes. An organised begin from each side, every taking a few carries up earlier than dispatching the ball with the boot of their scrum-halves. Rinse, repeat.
There’s a slight variation when Ireland spin to Lowe and his kick is charged down by Christie rampaging out of the road with a block.
2 minutes. Gibson-Park field kicks the ball away, however can solely discover Russell slightly than contact. The Scots captain wastes no time in transferring the ball to van der Merwe who has a run earlier than Sheehan is over the ball strongly to win a penalty to Ireland.
KICK OFF!
Finn Russell kicks the ball deep into Ireland territory to start out us off
Peter O’Mahony could be very tearful throughout “Ireland’s Call”. Could a retirement announcement be coming?
Tadhg Beirne is first out of the tunnel to take an ovation on the event of his fiftieth cap for Ireland. Soon after the 2 groups emerge right into a mizzling early night in Dublin, with extra rain predicted because the the sport progresses.
Late workforce change for Ireland
Hugo Keenan has a late harm and is changed at fullback by Jordan Larmour.
That may very well be important as Keenan is commonly the glue that holds all one of the best Irish performances collectively. Larmour is nippy, however he’s a great distance wanting the category of his Leinster workforce mate.
There’s a lot chatter this week concerning the risk that Ireland might win the event through bonus factors with much less wins than England. Read extra about it right here.
There are probably a variety of permutations right here relying on the consequence. How do you see it going? Let me know to with an e-mail or a submit @bloodandmud
Teams
Andy Farrell can identify an unchanged beginning XV after Calvin Nash recovered sufficiently from his head harm departure final week v England. However, he the coach will not be eager to repeat the problems introduced by solely having two again among the many subs final week, and so the 5-3 break up returns together with Harry Byrne and Garry Ringrose.
Scotland boss Townsend brings Stafford McDowall in to inside-centre, whereas Ben White returns at scrum-half.
IRELAND Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Harry Byrne, Garry Ringrose
SCOTLAND Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements:Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Rowe.
Preamble
It wasn’t meant to be this fashion for Ireland. This second installment of Super Saturday 2024 was as a result of be the ultimate waypoint to a Grand Slam delivered on the weekend of their nationwide patron saint’s day. Instead, they’ve the frustration of needing only a bonus level to win the Championship; which is sort of the clanging sentence isn’t it?
Similar to the barnstorming England groups of 2000 and 2001, “just” profitable the Championship does really feel like beneath par for Andy Farrell’s males given they have been so clearly one of the best aspect in Europe coming in. They will desperately need to demonstrably reassert that standing at this time in entrance of the house crowd.
While the temper music because the World Cup has not been as vivid for Scotland, this isn’t how they noticed the event panning out both. They can technically nonetheless win the factor with a victory and a beneficial lead to Paris later, however Gregor Townsend and his workforce will know that they need to be taking part in for a Slam as nicely. Winning positions left to drift away in opposition to Italy and France should shroud this squad like a stinking miasma of remorse. The problem can be dispersing sufficient of it to smell out a win in Dublin.
I’m certain they’ll each be up for it when the whistle blows, thoughts you.
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