Scotland 32 Ireland 10
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| A dejected Brian O'Driscoll leaves the field at the end of the game (© Inpho) |
Ireland’s dream of an elusive Grand Slam is over after a crushing defeat at the hands of Scotland in Edinburgh. A scrappy Six Nations match was dominated from start to finish by the Scots as the visitors, hot favourites before kick-off, were simply torn apart.
Scotland breached the Irish defence with embarrassing ease and scored four tries as they overran the Irish midfield. Ireland, who took 50 minutes to make it onto the scoreboard, could manage just a single Ronan O’Gara penalty and a late Girvan Dempsey try in return.
Ireland came into this match, delayed by five months due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, on the back of two Six Nations victories with ambitions of wins over Scotland and Wales to set-up a Grand Slam showdown with England next month,
Scotland 17-0, up at the break, were always in charge and Ireland, remarkably still without a win in Scotland since 1985, must recover quickly if they are to challenge Wales in Cardiff on October 13th for this was a dreadful Irish performance.
After an error strewn opening 20 minutes during which Scotland outside half Gregor Townsend and Ireland opposite number Ronan O'Gara both missed two penalty chances, the home team took the lead.
In the 22nd minute, a quick-fire break from John Leslie caught Shane Horagn flat-footed. Leslie fed left-wing Chris Paterson before he passed to Scotland captain and flanker Budge Pountney for a well-worked try. Townsend made no mistake with the conversion in front of the posts and Scotland were 7-0 ahead.
Then, on 37 minutes after a Chris Patterson penalty, 10-0 became 17-0 following the best move of the match. Sustained Scotland pressure saw the ball go through several phases of possession.
Full-back Glenn Metcalfe burrowed forward, scrum-half Bryan Redpath fed Townsend who in turn passed to Tom Smith and from a few yards out the prop forward went over for the try. Paterson converted and at half-time Ireland's hopes of securing their first Grand Slam since 1948 were looking distinctly threadbare.
In the 49th minute, after a period of better Irish possession, O'Gara at last found the target to reduce Scotland's lead to 17-3. However, Scotland quickly quelled any hopes of an Ireland fightback. In the 57th minute, Townsend's break put the Ireland defence on their heels.
Townsend was well-tackled by Girvan Dempsey but still managed to get the ball away to Leslie who went over for a try under the posts.
Ireland's day was summed up when O'Driscoll, in a brilliant moment of individual skill, chipped the ball over the advancing defence only to knock-on as he tried to regather his kick.
Then, in the dying minutes, replacement back and Scotland debutant Andrew Henderson capitalised on slack Irish defending and crossed for a try to set the seal on a convincing victory.
Ireland did manage to cross the Scotland line when Dempsey went over in injury time but it was scant consolation after a hugely disappointing day.