Ireland have secured a narrow 19-12 win over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium this evening in their opening game of the Six Nations.
Scotland started the better of the two sides and were rewarded with the opening points of the game five minutes in as fly-half Adam Hastings slotted over an easy penalty. Ireland No 8 Caelan Doris went off injured during that phase of play meaning his test debut was cut short.
However, Ireland came roaring back and scored the opening try of the game after 10 minutes with captain Johnny Sexton going over from close-range after a lovely move involving Cian Healy and Conor Murray. Sexton converted his own try to make it 7-3.
Five minutes later and Hastings cut into the lead from the tee with a brilliant penalty from distance.
Scotland had the better of the majority of the remaining 25 minutes of the half, but failed to make their dominance count and it was the hosts who would push further in front with only five minutes remaining as Sexton knocked over a penalty. That was the final score of the half as it finished 10-6 in favour of Ireland.
Ireland came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half and Sexton extended their lead within five minutes as Scotland gave away a couple of cheap penalties, allowing the Irish 10 to score an easy three-pointer to make it 13-6.
Scotland grew into the half and captain Stuart Hogg thought he had scored their first try of the game but the experienced full-back knocked the ball on in the left-corner with nobody around him.
However, they did narrow the lead with a penalty that was coming before the Hogg incident, which Hastings kicked to make it 13-9 with 52 minutes on the clock.
Sexton once again edged Ireland further ahead five minutes on as he sent a simple penalty through the posts after some great play in the opposition 22.
Heading into the final 15 minutes and there was only four-points in it again as Hastings sent a perfect penalty between the sticks to make for a nervy finish.
Ireland’s captain put them seven-points clear once more with eight-minutes left with another penalty-kick as the boys in green tried to make sure of their victory.
Scotland came close a couple of times in the closing stages of the match, but Ireland were able to hold on to hand new head coach Andy Farrell a first win.
Next up for the hosts is the visit of reigning Grand Slam champions Wales on Saturday, while Scotland play host to England on the same day as both teams look to push on following this tight result.
Player Ratings
Ireland Starting XV:
Jordan Larmour (7), Andrew Conway (6), Garry Ringrose (6), Bundee Aki (6), Jacob Stockdale (7), Johnny Sexton (8), Conor Murray (7); Cian Healy (6), Rob Herring (7), Tadhg Furlong (8), Iain Henderson (6), James Ryan (7), CJ Stander (8), Josh van der Flier (6), Caelan Doris (N/A)
Replacements (7)
Scotland Starting XV:
Stuart Hogg (8), Sean Maitland (6), Huw Jones (7), Sam Johnson (7), Blair Kinghorn (6), Adam Hastings (8), Ali Price (7); Rory Sutherland (6), Fraser Brown (7), Zander Fagerson (6), Scott Cummings (6), Jonny Gray (7), James Ritchie (7), Hamish Watson (7), Nick Haining (6)
Replacements (6)
