Ireland have one hand on the Six Nations trophy as Joe Schmidt’s side secured a bonus-point victory over Scotland spearheaded by Jacob Stockdale’s magnificent first-half brace.
England must beat France, and bag a bonus point in the process, later in the evening if they want to take Ireland to a championship decider at Twickenham next Saturday. Anything less and the title will be in Ireland’s grasp by teatime on Saturday.
The charge for a first Grand Slam since 2009 remains on course as well as Ireland secured a an historic 11th straight Test victory. This was not a perfect performance, by any means but Ireland will travel to London in buoyant mood. Certainly, when you have a strike runner like Stockdale in your team, you can afford to be confident.
Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale took all the plaudits at the Aviva Stadium as his first-half double helped Ireland beat Scotland
The Ulsterman opened Ireland’s account on Saturday by stealing an interception on his own 10-metre line and running in
He then doubled his personal tally for the afternoon when he was fizzed a pass out wide before crossing over easily again
Conor Murray then went over in the second half to all but secure victory for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium
It was Sean Cronin who put the icing on the cake, going over late on to secure a crucial bonus point in Dublin
Ireland were fired up for this one. Rob Kearney wore a look of sheer intensity during the anthems while Tadhg Furlong, back from a hamstring injury, beat his chest on the pitch and let out a war cry to his fellow forwards just before kick-off.
Ireland have become a fiendishly difficult team to play against in recent years. They squeeze you in every area of the pitch: at the set-piece, in the air and at the breakdown. When Johnny Sexton hoisted an early aerial bomb, Finn Russell failed to field it handing Ireland an early attacking scrum. With Furlong back at tighthead, the scrum looked rock solid. Andrew Porter, the rookie Leinster tighthead, did well in recent weeks but having a Test Lion back at the coalface was a huge fillip for the home side.
Scotland found themselves on the ropes for a bruising opening 10 minutes. Ireland attacked in wave after wave, but hooker Stuart McInally did brilliantly to win a turnover on the deck to lift the pressure.
Watson and John Barclay were outstanding at the breakdown against England a fortnight ago and they were looking just as menacing in the tight exchanges early in this contest.
Despite all the Irish pressure, it was Scotland who drew first blood thanks to Greig Laidlaw’s 12th-minute penalty after a backtracking Keith Earls was penalised for failing to release on the deck with Scottish players arriving to the breakdown in their droves.
It was fast and furious in the opening quarter. The Scots, starved of possession, lit up the game thanks to some sublime handling from Ryan Wilson, Blair Kinghorn and Finn Russell on the short side. Ireland lifted the siege as Wilson left the field for a Head Injury Assessment. There was no quarter being given here.
The Scotland squad line up to sing their national anthem ahead of the weekend’s first Six Nations encounter
In the early exchanges, Ireland’s Cian Healey slams into the tackle of Greig Laidlaw as Huw Jones looks to provide cover
Healy (with the ball), the Irish prop, is grounded thanks to a massive tackle from Scotland scrum-half Laidlaw
Ryan Wilson is forced to leave the field following a huge collision in order to undergo a head injury assessment
Sexton sparked Ireland back into life when he chipped and regathered his own kick and sent Murray galloping into space. Bundee Aki and CJ Stander carried on the attack before Sexton crossfield kick, his third of the match, came to nothing.
Stockdale has been scoring tries for fun this season. The Ulster win notched his ninth Test try in eight appearances when he raced onto Peter Horne’s looping pass to race away for Ireland’s first try of the afternoon.
Garry Ringrose, who came into the starting line-up with barely an hour of action for Leinster under his belt, showed no signs of rust with a searing midfield break. Moments later, Huw Jones was racing away down the other end of the field. Hogg was racing through unmarked for tryline but Jones could not find his teammate with the try-scoring pass. It was a huge moment, and a huge let-off for Ireland.
The sheer pace and intensity of the game was clearly having an effect on both sets of players. The breakdown was proving a fascinating contest with Watson, Barclay, Leavy and O’Mahony creating havoc at every available opportunity.
There was time for one more Irish raid before the break as James Ryan mopped up McInally’s overthrown lineout before offloading to the onrushing Rory Best. Sexton then swept the ball across the backline as Ringrose’s deft pass put Kearney into acres of space. The Ireland fullback then fed Murray who was hauled down metres short of the line. Aki then tried to power over form close range but referee Wayne Barnes, who was marshalling the contest superbly, adjudged that the Kiwi midfielder was held up.
After an early Laidlaw penalty, it was Ireland and Stockdale who made the first real impact of the afternoon
Stockdale and Johnny Sexton, who prepares to take the kick to add the extras, celebrate after the game’s first try
The visitors attempt to steady the ship as No 9 Laidlaw sends a box-kick deep into Irish territory at the Aviva Stadium
Ireland’s Dan Leavy (centre) tackled by Scotland second-row Grant Gilchrist (left) as he bids to make some ground
It was Stockdale, however, who further extended the hosts’ lead when he finished off a slick backs move in the corner
The 21-year-old Ulster wing beams after he touches down his second try of the match in a toughly-fought contest
From the ensuing scrum, Ireland went for the jugular. Ringrose and Ryan trucked it up and set the platform. Ringrose then exectuted a perfect switch with Aki and sent Stockdale dancing over his for his second try of the match. Sexton’s touchline conversion made it 14-3 as Ireland finished the half like a runaway train.
Ireland had the sun on their backs early in the second-half as they went for the jugular. Sexton turned down a shot at goal and fired the ball into the corner. It was a big statement of intent. The outstanding Ryan rose high to claim the lineout and the Irish pack once again set up their driving maul. Murray doesn’t need half an invitation to snipe for the line and the Ireland scrum-half duly powered his way over for his side’s third try of the day. Sexton’s conversion pushed Ireland out to a 21-3 lead to leave the visitors reeling.
That all-important fourth try was looming large. Ireland had one hand on the trophy, and the crowd could sense it.
But it was Scotland who struck next. Kinghorn, on his championship debut, looked threatening in the wide channels all afternoon and the Edinburgh wing was rewarded with a fine try in the 51st-minute thanks to quick hands from Russell and Sean Maitland down the blindside. Laidlaw could not add the extras from the touchline.
Horne raced through the Irish defence but the Scottish midfielder threw another shocker of a pass which eluded the onrushing Kinghorn. Scotland’s display summed up in one moment.
Scotland’s main attacking threat, Stuart Hogg, fends off the advances from Ireland centre Garry Ringrose
Ireland full-back Rob Kearney looks to escape the grasp of Blair Kinghorn as the No 15 looks to go on a marauding run
Ireland win the line-out and Murray snipes around the fringe and has some help from his forwards, surging over the line
Normal service resumed thereafter as Ireland, boosted by the impact of Jack McGrath, Iain Henderson and Jordi Murphy from the bench, once again laid siege to the Scottish tryline.
They had to settle for a three-pointer from Sexton on the hour mark, but Irish No 10 sent his effort wide of the post.
But the precious fourth try finally arrived when substitute hooker Cronin burrowed over from a surging Irish lineout maul with 10 minutes to play.
The sun broke through the clouds and the ‘Fields of Athenry’ began to reverberate around the stadium while the sizeable Scottish support made an early dash for the exits. Ireland, with their young tyros Joey Carbery and Jordan Larmour off the bench, fittingly finished the game on the front foot.
They will march on to Twickenham with a shot at history in full view. St Patrick’s Day is shaping up to be a very special day, indeed.
But the visitors hit back immediately, with Kinghorn diving over with his towering frame at the end of a lovely team move
The Scots have a muted celebration as they know there is still much work to do if they are to work their way back into the tie
Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton with Scotland’s John Barclay during the NatWest Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium
The Irish celebrate after Cronin’s late try means they come away from the game with the maximum number of points