Hey everyone. It’s Super Saturday — and Ireland are gunning for back-to-back Six Nations titles.
That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
Gavan Casey with you here and I’ll be bringing you live updates from the Aviva Stadium as Ireland face Scotland, who have a Triple Crown on the line themselves.
Looks like there’s going to be a late change to the Ireland team, which I’ll bring you shortly.
Hugo Keenan is a last-minute withdrawal for Ireland, and he’ll be replaced by Jordan Larmour at fullback.
It’s Larmour’s first start for Ireland since 2021.
Ireland otherwise unchanged, with Larmour coming from outside the matchday 23 straight into the starting lineup.
Worth noting, as well, that Jack Crowley hasn’t been taking any kicks in the warm-up, and his left knee is strapped up. Looks to be moving okay, though.
Still, Jaysus!
- 15. Jordan Larmour
- 14. Calvin Nash
- 13. Robbie Henshaw
- 12. Bundee Aki
- 11. James Lowe
- 10. Jack Crowley
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Dan Sheehan
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. Tadhg Beirne
- 6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
- 16. Rónan Kelleher
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Finlay Bealham
- 19. Ryan Baird
- 20. Jack Conan
- 21. Conor Murray
- 22. Harry Byrne
- 23. Garry Ringrose
The Scots look set to line out as named. Two changes for them from the side that fell to Italy in Rome.
Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall comes into the number 12 shirt, while Ben White returns to the side at scrum-half. That means Cameron Redpath and George Horne, who started last weekend’s defeat to Italy, drop to the bench.
This will be McDowall’s Six Nations debut and just his second Test cap as the 26-year-old gets his chance in the number 12 shirt with key man Sione Tuipulotu absent due to injury.
- 15. Blair Kinghorn
- 14. Kyle Steyn
- 13. Huw Jones
- 12. Stafford McDowall
- 11. Duhan van der Merwe
- 10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
- 9. Ben White
- 1. Pierre Schoeman
- 2. George Turner
- 3. Zander Fagerson
- 4. Grant Gilchrist
- 5. Scott Cummings
- 6. Andy Christie
- 7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
- 8. Jack Dempsey
Replacements:
- 16. Ewan Ashman
- 17. Rory Sutherland
- 18. Elliot Millar-Mills
- 19. Sam Skinner
- 20. Matt Fagerson
- 21. George Horne
- 22. Cameron Redpath
- 23. Kyle Rowe
Referee: Matthew Carley.
Well, in light of that Hugo Keenan news, how are ya feelin’?
Poll Results:
An unexpectedly huge day for this man…
Donncha O’Callaghan is MCing affairs from the pitch and he’s doing a marvelous job getting the crowd going — including the Scots.
His voice is under serious strain, though. Fear for him.
1′ – IRE 0-0 SCO: Finn Russell gets us underway at Lansdowne Road.
Here we go!
1′ – IRE 0-0 SCO: Dan Sheehan wins a jackal penalty off the Scots almost immediately. Crowley, from midfield, takes Ireland to the Scottish 22′ but the lineout is won uncleanly. Tadhg Beirne eventually spills forward in contact.
5′ – IRE 0-0 SCO: Half-chance for Scotland as James Lowe has an exit kick charged down but it dribbles into touch just out of Scottish reach.
Ireland botch the lineout but Joe McCarthy strips Zander Fagerson in contact and Ireland escape.
7′ – IRE 0-0 SCO: Penalty Scotland just inside the Irish half as they’re pinged for going off their feet on their own ball at the breakdown.
Russell points to the sticks, right of centre, about 45 metres from goal.
8′ – IRE 0-3 SCO: Russell drains it. Super kick. Scotland lead after a sloppy Irish start.
11′ – IRE 0-3 SCO: Ireland apply pressure with a couple of lovely, dribbling kicks into the left-hand corner by both Crowley and Lowe.
They eventually win a penalty just outside the Scottish 22′, on the right edge. They opt for touch. Crowley kicks them to the Scottish 5′.
12′ IRE 0-0 SCO: Ireland try an intricate, short lineout move but the Scots are wise to it and bundle Sheehan into touch.
13′ – IRE 7-3 SCO: TRRRYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! OUT OF NOTHING! DAN SHEEHAN!!!
George Turner overthrows the Scottish lineout on his own 5′ and Sheehan claims it at pace at the back before crashing over for the score!
Brilliant awareness by Sheehan.
Crowley converts from a tricky angle on the right-hand side and Ireland lead 7-3, just like that.
18′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Finn Russell narrows the gap from the tee after an Irish offside outside their own 22′.
29′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Big moment by Stafford McDowall as he breaks a Bundee Aki tackle and surges clear. Ireland survive Scotland’s advances again.
It’s a tight game.
31′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Ireland win a penalty with their first put-in to the scrum.
A promising attack, however, breaks down in a choke tackle inside the Scottish 22′.
35′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Pierre Schoeman and Andy Christie are pinged for crossing between their own 10′ and the halfway line. That was very funny.
Crowley points towards the posts.
36′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Crowley misses wide left from range. Score remains 7-6 to Ireland.
38′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Ireland are just ‘off it’ again so far. It’s been a trudging kind of performance with very little sparkle.
The Scots are ‘on it’ — but without the players to truly take advantage to this point. They’ve defended exceptionally well, though.
42′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: A bit better from Ireland as the carve a half chance down the left through O’Mahony and Sheehan. The hooker’s offload finds grass, however, as he’s pushed towards touch, and Scotland chip and chase downfield.
Nash retreats well and scoops the loose ball before getting clothes-lined as he ducked out of a tackle.
Penalty only — and Ireland are back up at halfway with the clock red.
40′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Ireland’s last attack of the half yields little as Doris’ snap-pass misses O’Mahony and flies into touch.
Andy Farrell’s men have been the better side without being anywhere close to their best. Scotland have dug in — and they’re right in this game with a serious chance, albeit without creating much of note themselves.
Catch you in 15 minutes.
41′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: Crowley gets us back underway for the second half at Lansdowne Road.
Ireland need a big, big half here.
Championship on the line. Time to go.
42′ – IRE 7-6 SCO: It’s a sharp start to the second 40 by Ireland as Lowe cuts loose down the left edge, spinning out of a tackle and offloading inside to Aki.
Scotland impede in their own 22′ and there’s a straightforward three points on offer for Crowley, which he takes.
Just what the doctor ordered!
44′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: Russell botches the Scottish restart, straight into touch. Home fans enjoyed that one.
Ireland scrum on halfway.
They win another penalty as Porter annihilates Fagerson!
Crowley kicks them into the Scottish 22′.
46′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: Ireland go close after direct carries up the middle, Aki and Henshaw heavily involved. They eventually skip left but Gibson-Park’s pass eludes Larmour who was in acres of space.
They had a penalty advantage, though, and they’re going to tap and go from five!
48′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: Tadhg Furlong has a try ruled out for a knock-on as he stretched for the line! Honestly, it looked like a try?
Aviva booing loudly. A let-off for Scotland either way, although they defended their line gallantly.
52′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: Furlong off for a HIA — he was basically smashed in the head during his try attempt. On comes Finlay Bealham.
Ireland monster Scotland at the scrum again — Bealham huge! — and swing wide left. Nash chips and chases and Ireland pile pressure on the retreating Scots on their 5′ — but the visitors escape, kind of, with a tame box kick to touch by Ben White.
Ireland lineout inside the Scottish 22′.
54′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: A powerful carry by Henshaw — who’s been excellent — sets up and Irish attack right. Larmour finds Nash on an overlap down the right wing and Nash slaloms inside, to within a yard of the Scottish line!
But the Munster wing is unfortunate as he spills the ball while trying to wrestle it back to the Irish side.
Scotland get the scrum on their own 5′, and they eventually clear through White.
57′ – IRE `10-6 SCO: Scotland are pinged for offside on halfway as they make a real hames of an attack.
Garry Ringrose is on for Ireland on the right wing, replacing Nash who had a fine game.
57′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: Crowley goes for everything from the penalty to touch on halfway. It skims Kinghorn’s fingers and into touch. Ireland lineout on the Scottish 5′.
58′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: Ireland’s first attack hits a brick wall but they have a pen advantage and go back to touch on the 5′.
Big chance here now.
59′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: Scotland survive again after some unbelievable goal-line defence and, eventually, a poor knock-on by Ringrose.
Still way too close for comfort, this one, even though Ireland have been much improved — and by far the better team — in the second half.
The Scots’ defence has been exemplary, in fairness.
63′ – IRE 10-6 SCO: RIGNROSE SURGES DOWN THE RIGHT EDGE AFTER PICKING UP A LOOSE BALL!
He’s stopped by Duhan van der Merwe but Ireland have three penalty advantages five out.
They keep it tight before Gibson-Park unleashes Henshaw! But it looks like he’s held up over the line! Unreal defence — again — by Scotland and Cam Redpath.
Carley will check upstairs but this is coming back for an Irish penalty.
Yep, it does. But Ewan Ashman, replacement hooker for Scotland, is binned, too.
65′ – IRE 17-6 SCO: THERE IT IS! ANDREW POORRTTTERRRR!!!
Ireland tap and go from the Scottish 5′ and Porter applies the finish that they’ve been looking for, and probably deserved, all second half.
Crowley adds the afters from close range — and Ireland lead by 11, with just under a quarter of an hour to go at the Aviva!
68′ – IRE 17-6 SCO: A proper chorus of ‘The Fields’ reverberates around the stadium.
Ireland finally have some breathing space — but there’s still work to be done to close this out.
67′ – IRE 17-6 SCO: By the way, Peter O’Mahony went off for Jack Conan a few minutes ago. He received a thundering ovation in what looks increasingly like it might be his final game in green.
He had a good game, too, the skipper.
70′ – IRE 17-6 SCO: Kyle Rowe hammers a kick out on the full from well outside his 22′. The Scots get up after the Irish lineout but did so illegally, says Matthew Carley.
Harry Byrne, on for Jordan Larmour (with Crowley gone to 15), prods Ireland into touch about seven shy of the Scottish paint.
72′ – IRE 17-6 SCO: Scotland stop the Irish maul and win a scrum. Missed opportunity to kill the game, there, for Ireland.
But they’re inching closer to the title.
76′ – IRE 17-6 SCO: Harry Byrne receives a yellow card and a bunker referral for a high, awkward challenge on Finn Russell.
Scotland need to score quickly here if they’re to have a chance of breaking Irish hearts.
78′ – IRE 17-13 SCO: AND SCOTLAND DO SCORE A TRY! AND THIS IS NOW VERY INTERESTING!
Huw Jones cuts a hole through the Irish defence and takes one under the sticks.
Russell converts quickly.
A Scottish try will win it. Two minutes to go.
79′ – IRE 17-13 SCO: The Aviva erupts as Scotland knock on just inside their own 10′.
Harry Byrne’s yellow will remain a yellow, for what it’s worth.
Irish scrum with 40 seconds to go!
Championship within reach.
Full-time — Ireland 17-13 Scotland: THEY’VE DONE IT!
IRELAND ARE SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONS!
And breathe!
Championship games are for winning, and that’s exactly what Ireland did in the end — without being near their best, it must be said.
Credit to the Scots who put in one hell of a defensive shift and gave the hosts a fright at the end.
Ultimately, though, Ireland have won back-to-back championships, and their 16th ever, with a 17-13 victory at the Aviva.
Thanks everyone for joining us for live updates. Keep an eye on The 42 for a full report, reaction and analysis.
Enjoy your evenings!
Hon Ireland….finish this on a high !
@Jb Walshe: amazing how the media have decided that O’Mahoney should be written off.
@Jp Cleary: his performances have more to do with that than the media. Does he really deserve to be one of the highest paid players in the country for so little output?
English referees coincidentally finding a knock-on where there wasn’t one and ignoring a head shot.
Absolute joke
@teuO6nLS: – he didn’t see the “try” so couldn’t give it and the tmo ignored the head shot. Plus it was never a try in a million years and he lost control of it
@teuO6nLS: thank you. I thought the same thing. That was a try until Karl Dixon stuck his nose in, then suddenly it wasn’t. Oh I was seething, but we’ve won it now, so justice is done :)
Refereeing laws need to be looked at…should leave question open to TMO, try yes or no…and let them decide.
So the TMO sees that from Harry but misses the one on Furlong from a yard out. The refereeing really has been a farce
Cooooommmoooon Ireland. 38-16 win.
@Willie Murphy: Appalling tactics that will only give Scotland confidence. Possibly the worst half tactically in the AF era. Unbelievable idea to turn the fastest scrum half in the game into the slowest…
@Thesaltyurchin: Ringrose needed,our centre partnership is fine defensively but attack wise I’ve sharper butter knives in the kitchen.
Terrible atmosphere there. So dead.
Are all the yuppies not feeling patriotic?
@Damien O’Sullivan: was thinking the exact same. reminds me of the games during covid when the stadium was empty.
@Damien O’Sullivan: every stadium lacks atmosphere when the home team is playing shite
@Pud: Well wake up boys!! Bring the passion
@Pud: Yuppies waking up a bit… team too
Christ, still no work done to improve the lineout
Crowley, Nash and Larmour are a level or 2 below Sexton, Hansen and Keenan. Ringrose should be playing 13. We have 2 12′s out there right now. Scotland’s defense has not really been tested, easy day for them so far.
All the armchair ‘experts’ on here. How may of you have played International Rugby?
Just enjoy the win and the back to back 6 Nations!
It’s already a one man show from Bundee Aki.
Fair juice to the team and management…Proud to be Irish
hard to see how farrell and co are improving this team week on week. attack that is one dimensional and predictable. a set piece that is average at best.
@Niall English: prioritizing highlight reel moments over basics in the pack.
James Ryan gets dog’s abuse from those with red tinted glasses for “only” doing the basics – securing quick ruck ball, running the lineout and making a ridiculous number of tackles. All three things are missing badly from the team
@Niall English: i’d have ryan with beirney in the second row if all being fit. what we are lacking today is ball carrying in the pack. cant get over the gain line and get on the front foot and give our backs a platform to play from. our attack is basically running the same back line, screen pass move with one or two slight variations. so easy to defend against.
@teuO6nLS: James Ryan missed the tackle for Scotland last try. This says it all, no matter what colour you are.
@teuO6nLS: I was never as high Ryan as others, but it seems more than a coincidence that every time Ireland/Leinster seem to struggle/outright lose he’s not in the game day 23. It happened in the world cup, it happened in this years 6N and it happened to Leinster in last years Heineken Cup. Clearly he is their talisman.
@Joe Kelly: think you’ve had a few too many beers, James Ryan is injured and wasn’t playing today
Larmour starting internationals in the year 2024 says it all. Another fella living on past “glories”
@mWhSNsK2: he’s 26 ffs not like he’s a player on his last legs being picked again despite constantly failing to turn up like others
@teuO6nLS: he wasn’t good enough 4 years ago, he’s not in his clubs first 23 when all are fit. He should be nowhere near a 6N squad, nevermind starting. His first touch today was him running backwards ffs
@mWhSNsK2: he’s started on the right wing for Leinster all season what are you on about?
@teuO6nLS: because Lowe was on his extended break and JOB got injured. They come back in, he’s out of the 23
James Lowe shocking again today. Finishes a few tries in the corners that even I would score. The guy can’t tackle, defensive positioning is dreadful and he can’t kick.
@Ray Ridge: I’d say you couldn’t finish a donut and know nothing about rugby or Lowe. He has an excellent kick and is a great finisher.
Leaving Henderson out, even as a sub, is looking like a mistake. Very little leadership in the team and clearly no one in the pack knows how to run a lineout
The penalty machine that is Joe Mccarthy at it again.
@Ray Ridge: what’s the odds on more penalties conceded than carries?
Thank heavens for Gibson-Park, Aki and Lowe….
@Michael KILLIAN: we need more Kiwis :)
Larmour needs to step up today
@Dave Moran: More headless chicken running around no doubt.
@Dave Moran: Keenan a big loss but this team has enough to cope without him. Larmour just needs to do the basics right.
@Ray Ridge: bore
Quinlan with his usual biased red tinted glasses comments, if a munster player had the scutters out there, he’d give them a standing ovation!!!
@den: Also only highlighting errors made by Leinster players – he is a complete dose. Worst co-commentater out there. He makes Donal Lenehan look unbiased and that takes some doing.
@den: fool
I don’t know which is worse the effort from the players or the effort from the officials…
@Shanek: the effort from so called fans who can’t enjoy the game. Yuo know the ones who know everything.
Hopefully the Leinster players can do enough in the collision today to accommodate Beirne and O Mahony. Will be comfortable win if so
@Eoin H: It’s Irish players not Leinster. This is International not provincial!!
@Eoin H: like they did against La Rochelle…..twice?
@Eoin H: like small Joe last week?
@Eoin H: this is obviously a joke because you picked Beirne and POM. If you’d said Murray it’d be harder to tell if you were serious or not…
@Eoin H: assuming omahony can stay on the field for once
@Eoin H: don’t forget Bundee without Leinster he’d be terrible. Sausage
@Eoin H: Yea, ‘comfortable’
@Eoin H: Dublin Jackeen.
@Eoin H: blue eyed fool, go home to mammy in d4.
I think Ireland’s golden era may be over…
@M To The B: yeah, played terrible over the last 2 games
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Jesus, if we have to call on Larmour to plug a hole in fullback we are truly in trouble. He proved today he isn’t good enough at this level, hopefully we blood a rival fullback in the summer, o’brien is injured i know and is a good option (you need at least 3 deep)but Haley is a far better option than relying on lads like larmour today. If only we kept Carbery as a full back……..
Jheez, its like they dont want to be there. Kick Kick Kick. boring, and inviting Scotland into the game. Worst tactics ever in a half of rugby
Terrible performance and it looked like last week really spooked them. Mind you, we were playing with 13 as Larmour contributed nothing and O’Mahony was a passenger again
@Darragh Freir: leave the blue glasses at home
We are Not Favourites
We can’t be Favourites
C’mon IRELAND
Have a feeling POM is gonna retire after this game
@mWhSNsK2: think he’s retired during the match
@orb7eckn: if he did, Ireland are goosed. Bundee is the only other player that has a semblance of a leader
@mWhSNsK2: The entire Irish pack looks like the don’t care.
@mWhSNsK2: No POM is still out there, but he ain’t a leader in any sense of the word.
@orb7eckn: then you’re a blind boy,as he’s doing as much carrying and tackling as Doris and VdF.
@mWhSNsK2: a lot of lads ought to retire after this shitshow.
@mark sheehan: I stand corrected, larmour should be nowhere near that team
Lineout is a shambles… limped to a title.. kiddin ourselves with the “one of best in the world” nonsense.
@barry fay: Best team in the 6 nations, top 3 in the world, which part of world class don’t you understand. Scotland are a good team
@Fergal Smith: Top3… who ya kiddin.. get past a qtr final and we can talk.. all the rest is fluff.
@barry fay: you not asleep yet
@barry fay: You obviously don’t know the game or who they lost to. Negative Armchair expert, the cold and timid soul who neither knows victory or defeat.
Just awful. We haven’t improved that’s it in a nutshell
Please, please bring the bench on at 50 mins
@rayridge Scotland by how much ??
@Gary Galligan: A bit like the England match last week, this won’t be the cakewalk many people think.
First half was abysmal by Ireland just like
O’Mahony last 2 performance. He really cost us the grand Slam. A passenger now really and keeping an excellent prospect from actually contributing something to the team.
A mistake making him captain this year ad the line out is still not functioning and also cost us a semi final in the World Cup.
St Paulie needs to be held to account.
@Jimmy Bean: hahahhahaha talk about bitter