IRELAND 17-13 SCOTLAND
Scotland pitched up in Dublin and, as Stuart Hogg would tell you, they felt they are ‘due these f***ers one’. Our live hub of ‘Super Saturday and the Ireland vs. Scotland match (below) had all the biggest moments, talking points, best scores and full Ireland player ratings.
Ireland shot out of the Six Nations traps by walloping France, Italy and Wales, only to be hobbled by England in their last game out. They start the day four points clear on England in the table. A losing bonus point may be enough to retain the title, but Ireland were gunning for a fourth emphatic victory.
As it played out, tries from Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter, as well as seven points from the boot of Jack Crowley, were enough to see off a determined Scottish side.
*Click on the key point you want to read about, or just keep scrolling to see updates in our live hub [below]:
Ireland player ratings from most recent outings
Andy Farrell’s side got their Six Nations defence off to a record-breaking start as they demolished France 38-17 in Marseille. Next up, was an Italian side that let victory against England, in their opener, slip through their fingers. Ireland scored six tries and kept the visitors scoreless. Wales put up a stiffer fight but were defeated 31-7 at Aviva Stadium.
Looking back at our Ireland player ratings for the opening Six Nations games, and the World Cup, it gives us an idea of who stepped up in some big games for Andy Farrell.
Most recently, we had Bundee Aki and Joe McCarthy score 8.5 out of 10 in that win over France. Tadhg Beirne, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson and Caelan Doris all scored 8s. In the 36-0 win over Italy, Lowe top-scored with 9, with Keenan, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Stuart McCloskey all getting 8s. Against Wales, Aki and Andrew Porter topped out with 8.5 each.
In their latest outing, losing 23-22 to England, Aki and Lowe scored 8s, with Beirne and Josh van der Flier getting 7.5s.
Against Romania, in their World Cup opener, Keenan, Aki, Johnny Sexton and McCarthy all scored 8/10s. Against Tonga, Sexton and Mack Hansen both scored 9/10 while James Ryan, Andrew Porter and Aki all got 8s. In that epic, tense win over South Africa, Doris, Porter and Lowe all scored 8/10, while Aki got 8.5 after another great effort. Doris and Garry Ringrose topped our Scotland ratings, with 9/10 each. In the quarter final loss to New Zealand, Aki top scored with 9/10, with Beirne getting 8. The rest had 6s and 7s.
