Ireland retain Six Nations title with hard fought win over Scotland

IRELAND retained their Guinness Six Nations Championship title with a hard fought 17-13 victory over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

Andy Farrell’s hosts were well below their free-flowing best in Dublin but avoided any major ‘Super Saturday’ drama to retain the championship title.

Andrew Porter’s second-half try fatally broke the resistance of the stubborn Scots to ignite the St Patrick’s weekend celebrations and satisfy an expectant capacity crowd at the Aviva Stadium.

The Scots were powerless to prevent Ireland bouncing back from the disappointment of their dream of successive Grand Slams being agonisingly ended by England last weekend.

Ireland have won their last 19 home matches, and have won 14 of their last 15 encounters with Scotland, including the last 10 in a row.

Munster Rugby's Tadhg Beirne had the honour of leading Ireland out on the occasion of winning his 50th cap for his country.

There was one change to the Ireland starting line-up from the team named on Thursday as Jordan Larmour replaced Hugo Keenan, who was ruled out with a hip injury, at full-back.

In favourable conditions, Finn Russell kicked Scotland into an eighth minute lead after he landed a penalty attempt from the home side's 10m line after James Lowe was pinged at the breakdown. 

Ireland responded impressively when hooker Dan Sheehan powered over for his 10th try at this level taking an advantage of an over-throw in a line-out in the 13th minute.

Out-half Crowley's conversion made it 7-3 to the home side.

Back came Scotland, however, and Russell kicked his second penalty goal of the game in the 18th minute to leave a point between the sides at 7-6.

That proved to be the final score of the opening half as attacking inspiration was in short supply through the second quarter.

Ireland looked sluggish in that opening 40, their try something of a gift.

To their credit, Ireland opened the second half brightly, building phases and holding onto possession. That bright opening yielded three more points when Crowley landed a 44th minute penalty to stretch the home side's advantage to four points at 10-6.

Tadhg Furlong looked to have pushed Ireland's advantage out further, but his touch down was chalked off following a lengthy review as referee Matthew Carley deemed the ball had been dislodged.

Heroic last-ditch defending was the only thing preventing a rampant home side showing renewed purpose from fully taking control of the contest.

Gary Ringrose, making his first appearance of the tournament following a shoulder injury, atoned with a lung-busting intercept run which led to Ireland’s crucial second try.

Robbie Henshaw was adjudged to have been held up on the line in the immediate aftermath before Porter subsequently powered over from a tap-and-go penalty following a yellow card for Ewan Ashman.

Supporters responded with a rousing rendition of the Fields of Athenry, fully believing the job was done.

However, home fans were forced to endure a nervy final couple of minutes after replacement fly-half Harry Byrne was sin binned for a head-on-head challenge on Russell and Scotland centre Jones broke clear to touch down.

Ireland duly avoided any further issues to jubilantly celebrate a fifth championship title in 11 years – and sixth overall – to underline their status as the northern hemisphere’s leading nation.

IRELAND: Jordan Larmour (UCD/Leinster); Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary's College/Leinster). Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster).

SCOTLAND: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge (co-capt), Jack Dempsey. Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Javan Sebastian , Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Rowe.

REFEREE: Matthew Carley (England)