Six-try Ireland celebrate Triple Crown success with clinical Six Nations victory over Scotland

CLINICAL Ireland secured a thrilling Triple Crown success and kept their hopes of winning the Guinness Six Nations Championship alive after racking up six tries in a convincing 43-21 bonus point success over Scotland at a sunny Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Ireland's hopes of gaining a seventh Six Nations Championship success will depend on England doing them a favour in this season's final Six Nations fixture away to France in Paris on Saturday night.

A big ask for England you would think, but Ireland will take great satisfaction from completing their own Six Nations campaign this season with a fourth win on the bounce following successes over Italty, England and Wales.

Ireland have now won their last nine matches against Scotland in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, with their last defeat in this fixture coming at Murrayfield in 2017.

Ireland led 19-7 at half-time, after scoring three tries and hstory was not on Scotland's side in their bid to turn thrings around. Ireland were unbeaten across their previous 30 Championship matches at the Aviva Stadium when leading at half-time.

Scotland did close to within five points on a couple of occasions in the second period, but there was simply no denying a clinical, composed Ireland side.

Saturday's victory equalled Ireland’s longest winning run against Scotland in any iteration of the Championship, alongside a nine-match streak between 1939 and 1954.

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Visitors Scotland have won just once in Dublin in the Men’s Six Nations, that victory coming back in 2010 in Ireland’s final game at Croke Park. Ireland have won all eight meetings at the Aviva Stadium since that fixture.

Prior to kick-off on Saturday afternoon, Scotland had won their last three Men’s Six Nations games and were beidding to win four on the bounce in a single tournament for the first time since winning the Grand Slam in the 1990 Five Nations.

In ideal playng conditions, Ireland got off to the best possible start as early as the third minute. A lovely break from Jack Crowley earned excellent field position for the home side. 

While Ireland lost the ball forward in contact, the home side earned a penalty off the resultant scrum and Crowley kicked the ball into touch.

Ireland won the line-out through Joe McCarthy, and off a wekll-executed set-play, Baloucoune came off his wing before popping the ball to Doris. The Ireland captain in turnfound Crowley who had full-back Jamie Osborne in support and he scampered over the tryline.

Crowley duly converted to make it 7-0 to the home.

Ireland's early lead was short-lived, however.  After an impressive run of phases, Scotland crosed for their opening try as winger Darcy Graham finished in the right corner after excellent link-up play from Russell and Kinghorn.

Russell also duly converted to make it 7-7.

A hugely entertaining opening spell continued when Ireland hit back from the restart inthe 11th minute. From a penalty award inside the Scottish half, Crowley kicked to ouch. Joe McCarthy takes the lineout and Ireland mauled the visiting pack backwards with the dynamic Dan Sheehan breaking away before diving over. Crowley superbly converted from the touchline to make it 14-7 to the home side.

Things got even better for the home side towards the end of the opening quarter when Ireland struck for a third try. Ireland won quick ball from a scrum with centre Stuart McCloskey throwing a perfect long pass for his Ulster team mate Rob Baloucoune. The winger still had plenty to do from 30 metres out but beat Graham on the outside, before finishing superbly. Crowley was off target with the conversion attempt but Ireland's lead was out to 12 points at 19-7.

There was plenty of endeavour from both sides through the remainder of that opening half, but neither side managed to add to their points tally.

It was Scotland who struck for the opening points of the second half as play-maker Russell barged over the tryline in the 52nd minute after a period of concerted pressure from the visitors. 

Russell superbly converted his own try to leave just five points between the sides at 19-14.

However, Ireland showed admirable composure to hit back almost immediately, corssing for the bonus point try in the 55th minute.

Doris and O'Brien did well to break through a couple of tackles which brough the play up to the Scots' 22. Slick handling on the short side brings the attack to within five minutes of the visitors line with Gibson-Park stopped just short. However, after 17 phases, replacement Darragh Murray powered over. Crowley's successful conversion had Ireland 12 points to the good once again.

However, the see-saw naturee of the scoring continued towards the end of the third quarter as a Rory Darge try brought Scotland right back into the contest.

However, Ireland's response was quick and decisive. In the 68th minute, replacement Murray blocked down a Scottish clearance.

Another replacement, Bundee Aki, made a crucial carry, before Ciaran Frawley offloaded out of the tackleto his Leinster team mate Tommy O'Brien and the winger ran in unopposed. Crowley converted and added a penalty goal soon after as Ireland increased their advantage to 15 points at 36-21.

There was still time for winger O'Brien to score a second try before full-time as Andy Farrell's side ran out comprehensive winners. 

SCORERS: Ireland: Tommy O'Brien two tries, Jamie Osborne, Dan Sheehan, Rob Baloucoune, Darragh Murray try each, Jack Crowley pen, five cons. Scotland: Darcy Graham, Rory Darge try, Finn Russell try, con, con, con

IRELAND: Jamie Osborne; Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy O'Brien; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O'Toole, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt). Replacements: Darragh Murray for Beirne (51-60 mins), Nick Tomoney for van der Flier (54 mins), Ronan Kelleher for Sheehan, Michael Milne for O'Toole, Finlay Bealaham for Furlong, Darragh Murray for McCarthy, Ciaran Frawley for Balaoucoune, Bundee Aki for Ringrose (all 66 mins), Craig Casey for Gibson-Park (78 mins).

SCOTLAND: Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson; Max Williamson, Grant Gilchrist; Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey. Replacements: Ewan Ashman for Turner (18 mins), Alex Craig for Williamson, Magnus Bradbury for Dempsey, George Horne for White, Kyle Rowe for Graham (all 62 mins), Rory Sutherland for Schoeman, D'Arcy Rae for Fagerson, Tom Jordan for Rowe (all 69 mins).

REFEREE: Luke Pearce (RFU).