THIS TIME, IT was going to be different. That had been the message from the Scotland camp all week as Gregor Townsend’s side looked to end their eight game losing run against Ireland. Ireland have now pushed that stat to nine games and counting, and the only thing that was in any way different about tonight was how startlingly comfortable this 36-14 win for Andy Farrell’s team was.
By the time referee Nic Berry called half-time, Ireland had the job done, 26-0 up after a supremely impressive opening 40 minutes. Johnny Sexton pumped his fists as his team jogged off the pitch and down the tunnel. Scotland trailed behind, heads bowed and hands on hips. They had the sorry look of a side who knew they were in for a long night.
Ireland, by contrast, were enjoying every minute, celebrating key defensive plays by turning to the sea of green who turned out in force to make this another memorable night at the Stade de France. During Friday’s captain’s run, James Lowe raised a few eyebrows when he stated the team had been told to expect 60,000 Ireland supporters for the occasion. If anything, that figure may have been on the conservative side. They’ll be back out in force next week when Ireland return to Saint Denis to take on the All Blacks.
Paris was heaving with green jerseys again over the last couple of days and the Stade was rocking long before kick-off, with every seat full by the time Peter O’Mahony lead the team out on the occasion of his 100th Test cap. It was an incredible moment for the Munster player and his team ensured it was night he’ll be able to look back on fondly.
The boisterous Irish support didn’t even have time to finish their first rendition of The Fields by the time Lowe raced over to open the scoring. Andy Farrell punched the air in the coaches box, and he enjoyed what followed just as much.
Scotland spent much of the next 10 minutes in the Ireland half but Farrell’s side held firm with a brilliant passage of defensive play which eventually came to a close when Caelan Doris forced a Scotland knock-on. Even at that early juncture, it was clear the night was only going to go one way.
Ireland finished the job early with a series of excellent, clinical moments of attacking play. The second score came in the 26th minute, Ireland pulling out the Sexton loop again before sharp contributions from Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose sent Hugo Keenan darting clear in the same corner.
Iain Henderson added a third from close range before Ireland bagged the bonus point before the break, Keenan displaying his athletic ability again by claiming a high pass and crossing for his second.
The Stade de France was in full-on party mood as it all become remarkably one-sided.
Ireland’s backs will get most of the headlines but it was also a good night for Ireland’s lineout, the one area of their game which has looked a little shaky on their route through the pool stages. In the first half Ireland won all of their seven lineouts cleanly, with O’Mahony stealing two Scottish throws for good measure. Farrell’s decision to start Dan Sheehan and Iain Henderson over Ronán Kelleher and James Ryan proved sound as Ireland’s set-piece was smooth throughout.
Joe Schmidt and Ian Foster will have been watching closely but Scotland didn’t manage to find any ways of troubling an Ireland team who look increasingly assured with every outing at this tournament.
Townsend’s side needed a strong start to the second period but instead they imploded; Ollie Smith’s lazy trip on Sexton sparking a mini-melee on the halfway line which saw Sheehan get dumped over an advertising hoarding and Smith yellow-carded. The scuffle managed to get O’Mahony’s blood boiling when the last thing Scotland needed was to ignite the Irish pack.
Ireland responded by twisting the knife, Gibson-Park moving on to the wing and spinning a smart pass out to Sheehan for Ireland’s fifth try. O’Mahony’s parting action was to fire a friendly wink in the direction of Finn Russell.
By the time Farrell sent in five forward replacements in the 48th minute O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne were able to salute the Irish support, knowing the result was in the bag.
Scotland finally landed some punches when Ewan Ashman and Ali Price went over in quick succession, but those quick-fire tries only served to avoid an embarrassing scoreline.
Even as injury disruptions forced Ireland into a series of unwanted positional changes – with Gibson Park and Ringrose both seeing out the game on the wings – Ireland saw the game out in cruise control, Ringrose scoring their sixth after collecting a lovely kick from Jack Crowley.
Next up it’s the All Blacks, and a chance for this Irish team to make history by becoming the first to reach the semi-finals at a World Cup. The stadium PA might be keeping Zombie on the playlist for while yet.
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Great to have players like McCloskey step up when called upon. Conan too, both were good tonight for players with not much game time so far.
Henderson justified his starting berth. Hard to know if he or Ryan will start next week.
@Joe O’Regan: henderson won me over last 2 games being brillent james ryan is my fave irish player but hendo will start
@Joe O’Regan: I’m backing my lip reading skills and saying Ryan has broken his hand and will be out.
@Henry Bourke: yeah he looked very uncomfortable after the game , I think Baird takes his spot on the bench
Great to see Crowley showing his class, tried a bit hard perhaps but otherwise what a talent
@William O’Gorman: strikes me as a player that starts slowly and then ramps up quick , he felt his way into the game and was finishing it very strong , the cross field kick was a beauty
@William O’Gorman: Cross field kick was class. He offers more than Byrne definitely but Johnny is still the only man we won’t win the world cup without.
How schoeman wasn’t given a red!!!
Phenomenal – our defence as good as our attack. Hopefully no major injuries for next week.
@Daithi Mc Ghiollamhairtin: agree 100 percent they love to defend
My Gawd what a team,and they are getting better
Outstanding from ireland they love to defend and the attack is amazing bring on new zealand im very confident
Thought Ireland were fantastic as usual in defense and when stretching Scotland out wide punished them in attack. For all the talk from Scotland, that was disappointing. No directness in back play or power going forward , seemed to throw the ball backwards and be pushed back more often than not rather that taking Ireland on directly more in back play.. … Finn was also disappointing… Just seemed to be going through the motions chucking the ball around (no clever chips or anything to get over the gain line) , overall a hiding from ireland and game finished at half time. Next week is a different kettle of fish for Ireland and SA… Now the WC really starts…
@Stuart: Irelands tactic to deal with Russell was to give him as much time as he wanted , they just read his passes and turned over the receiver, Russell seemed to get more and more agitated and made no impact – he is incredibly overrated
Wonder what the SA water boy thought of that performance, not to mention Nienabar’s conspiracy theory! And he’s coming to Ireland next season???
Let’s leave the nonsense to Boks supporters! Nienabar got asked a loaded question about the fix and answered that he didn’t think Irl or Scot would stoop to that!
Looks like Lowe has a scratch on his eye,how long does that take to recover?
@Rugbyanbeer: 2-3 days , he’ll be fine
Hopefully Murray Kinsella and the 42 will finally accept that we have a world class team without bigging up the opposition for click bait reaction.