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As it happenedended

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Scotland vs Ireland result: Irish get back to winning ways to keep Six Nations title hopes alive

Re-live the action from the Six Nations clash at Murrayfield

In association with

Jack de Menezes

Saturday 09 February 2019 17:04 GMT

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Six Nations round-up: England beat champions Ireland

Re0live the action from Saturday's opening Six Nations match of the weekend as Ireland bounced back from their home defeat by England by beating Scotland 22-13 to keep their championship hopes alive.

Ireland ran in three tries to get their attacking spark back as first-half tries from Conor Murray and Jacob Stockdale were added to by a second-half score from Keith Earls, with replacement fly-half Joey Carbery adding his delightful touch to create the third score.

Scotland's response came just before the break from Sam Johnston, but they struggled to take their chances and slipped to a disappointing result on home soil. Re-live the live updates below.

What time does it start?

Scotland vs Ireland kicks off at 2:15pm (GMT).

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on BBC One from 1:15pm. The match will also be available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Highlights will be shown on Sunday at 6pm on BBC Two.

Six Nations: Team of the week

Show all 15

1/15Six Nations: Team of the week

Six Nations: Team of the week

1. Mako Vunipola (England)

It might already be the performance of the championship. The England loosehead made a game-leading 25 tackles and was a rock in the scrum, not to mention a wrecking ball when carrying. Continues to defy logic as he plays like a 19-stone back-row.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

2. Jamie George (England)

Put any lineout demons from the autumn behind him with a creative and accurate display. Impressive with ball in hand as he looked to make the most of holes in the Ireland defence and is very much becoming England’s No 1 No 2.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

3. Tomas Francis (Wales)

Wales had little to should about in the first half in Paris but Francis stood out among the rest of those in red. Carried well and took on responsibility when others lost their heads. Stood up well in the scrum against a mammoth French pack.

Getty Images

Six Nations: Team of the week

4. Ben Toolis (Scotland)

His long locks make him stand out regardless, but the Edinburgh lock was one of the noticeable carriers in dark blue and managed to win the physical collisions by always going forwards in contact. Mention to England’s Maro Itoje, who was on course for the shirt until injury cruelly forced him off the field.

Action Images via Reuters

Six Nations: Team of the week

5. George Kruis (England)

Brought in to run the England lineout and delivered emphatically. Lost just two of their 10 lineouts and even managed to pinch one off Ireland, which is easily said than done. Supported England’s big impact runners really well to retain the ball.

Getty Images

Six Nations: Team of the week

6. Mark Wilson (England)

An area of big competition this weekend but the Englishman shades it ahead of Wales’ Josh Navidi, who it must be said was exceptional against the French. However, Wilson continues to prove why he belongs on the Test arena, and could well have delivered a performance in Dublin that pushes him ahead of Brad Shields in the No 6 shirt pecking order.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

7. Justin Tipuric (Wales)

A brilliant defensive effort from the openside sees him take the shirt ahead of Tom Curry, though Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie also deserves a strong mention for an all-round impressive showing. However, it was Tipuric’s composure in the breakdown that kept Wales in the game and allowed them to seize the opportunities that France threw their way.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

8. Billy Vunipola (England)

His first Six Nations outing in two years did not disappoint as the No 8 announced his return to international rugby with a bang. Looks to be getting back to the level he was before his injury nightmare began, which given this was only his fourth appearance since returning from injury is nothing short of astounding. A special mention to Louis Picamoles too, who showed what a farce it has been in omitting him from the national team.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

9. Ben Youngs (England)

The scrum-half’s best performance for quite some time as he injected pace into England’s game and produced what felt like his best kicking display of his career. Smart, tactical decisions kept Ireland pegged back and made good use of the blindside to bring both Jonny May’s and Henry Slade’s tries.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

10. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Played a key role in Scotland’s victory over Italy, proving the creative spark in four of their five tries. A lovely cross-field kick off the outside of his boot set-up Blair Kinghorn for his first, a loop move lead to the wing’s second, a chip behind the Italian defence laid on the third for Stuart Hogg and his delayed pass ultimately lead to Chris Harris’ final score.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

11. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

On that note it is no surprise to see the hat-trick hero take his place in the side. Showed his clinical finishing with his first two tries, while the third was undoubtedly his best as he linked well with Greig Laidlaw to deceive the defence and race through to score.

EPA

Six Nations: Team of the week

12. Manu Tuilagi (England)

Like Billy Vunipola, Tuilagi took to international rugby after a lengthy lay-off like a duck to water. The centre offered plenty attacking-wise, but it was his defence that really stood out as he put in bone-crunching tackles on Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki and Tadhg Furlong. Played a key role in executing England’s plan.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

13. Henry Slade (England)

His coming of age as an international player. All the talk had been of Tuilagi’s return, but Slade delivered a masterclass performance to show why he remains so crucial to England’s creativity. Two tries - his first in the Six Nations - were just rewards for his smart play in Dublin.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

14. George North (Wales)

Opportunistic, and then some. Coaches will tell children to never give up on lost causes on the rugby field, and North is a prime example of that. His committed performance saw him end the weekend with two tries to his name, the first no doubt through luck as Yoann Huget spilled the ball, but the second stemmed from choosing the right decision to race up and intercept the ball.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

Look around the SIx Nations and there is a wealth of attacking full-backs, but Hogg just rises above the rest. Quick hands set-up Kinghorn’s second try, before his pace secured him his own as he won the race to Russell’s chip through. Still had time to display his running skills as he cut Italy in half that brought up the final score for Harris.

EPA

Teams

Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Huw Jones, Johnson, Maitland, Russell, Laidlaw (c), Dell, McInally, Berghan, Gilchrist, Gray, Wilson, Ritchie, Strauss

Replacements: Brown, Bhati, Rae, Toolis, Harley, Price, Horne, Kinghorn

Ireland: Kearney, Earls, Farrell, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton, Murray, Healy, Best (c) Furlong, Ryan, Roux, O’Mahony, O’Brien, Conan

Replacements: Cronin, Kilcoyne, Porter, Dillaner, Van der Flier, Cooney, Carbery, Larmour

Form guide…

Scotland: WLWLWW

Ireland: WWWWWL

Head-to-head…

Ireland 28 (Stockdale x2, Murray, Cronin) Scotland 8 (Kinghorn), Six Nations, March 2018

Scotland 27 (Hogg x2, Dunbar) Ireland 22 (Earls, Henderson, Jackson), Six Nations, February 2017

Ireland 35 (Stander, Earls, Murray, Toner) Scotland 25 (Hogg, Gray, Dunbar), Six Nations, March 2016

Odds…

Scotland to win: 9/4

Ireland to win: 4/9

Draw: 22/1

Prediction…

Ireland by 3: Scotland can cut any side to shreds on their day, but Ireland will need to produce a response after last week's result. They have not transformed into a bad side overnight, and although Scotland were impressive in patches against Italy, they will have to find a way to expose Ireland's restrictive defence.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Guinness Six Nations championship as we kick off the second round at Murrayfield as Scotland take on Ireland.

The two sides head into the match in differing circumstances, with Scotland hoping to build on last weekend's 33-20 victory over Italy while Ireland are looking to bounce back from a surprise defeat against England.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 2:15pm, with our in-depth build-up getting underway from 1:00pm.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 09:38

With an hour to go until kick-off, Murrayfield is slowly starting to fill up as the two sides arrive outside to raucous receptions - with the Scots marched in by their traditional bagpipers' welcome.

It's a brisk but sunny day in Edinburgh which should favour attacking philosophy employed by Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, although the Irish are no slouches with the ball in hand.

it should make for a spectacular match this afternoon.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 13:13

Ireland arrive at Murrayfield ahead of their clash with Scotland

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 13:15

TeamsScotland: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw; Aallan Dell, Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan; Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray; Ryan Wilson, Jamie Ritchie, Josh Strauss.

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D’Arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn.

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ulthan Dillane, Josh Van Der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour.

Referee: Romain Poite (France).

Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere and Alexandre Ruiz (both France).

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 13:34

How important will this man prove?

Stuart Hogg has emerged over the seven years since his debut as one of the most lethal finishers in the game, and with 12 Six Nations tries to his name, he has his country's all-time record in his sights in the form of Ian Smith's landmark of 24.

The all-time top try-scorer from any country is of course Brian O'Driscoll, whose 26 tries will take some beating.

Stuart Hogg starts at full-back for Scotland

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 13:51

Former Scotland full-back Chris Paterson has his say on the weather conditions, which have taken a slight turn for the worst with the weather picking up and sky clouding over. He's told the BBC:

It will move, more so on the East Stand side, and it won';t move one way, it''s move one way and then three-four metres the other because it's gusty in here. You have to strike it perfect, but it's easier said than done.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 14:02

Who remembers the last time these two Celtic rivals met at Murrayfield?

It was of course two years ago in 2017 when Scotland stunned Ireland and wrecked their championship hopes with a 27-22 victory.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 14:05

Can Ireland complete a clean sweep?

Yesterday the Under-20s got things off to a winning start for Ireland to continue their 100 per cent start as they defeated their Scottish counterparts 24-5, before the women's team got back to winning ways with a 22-5 victory over Scotland Women. Can the men's side bounce back as well to keep their championship hopes alive?

Lose today, and Ireland's title hopes will be almost certainly over.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 14:07

The two sides emerge into the tunnel and are seconds away from running out onto the field to what will surely be a passionate reception. The magical Murrayfield afternoons are something to behold, and with the Six Nations trophy and Triple Crown on display, they emerge as fire shoots high into the sky.

Time for the national anthems.

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 14:10

When the bagpipes fall silent and Murrayfield comes to life, there's nothing quite like it.

It feels like a special day, and can Scotland back up on their potential by upsetting Ireland for what would be the second week running. We're about to find out.

The pitch is cleared of the flags, bands and everyone else bar the 30 starters and referee Romain Poite.

Here we go!

Jack de Menezes9 February 2019 14:14

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