It feels just a little bit like ‘too little, too late.’
Ireland dominated Italy last week, and were imperious in the very opening exchanges against Scotland this week – holding on to the ball for 89% of the first ten minutes. At one point in the half, CJ Stander alone had racked up four more carries than the entire Scotland team.
Even with a rare missed penalty, Sexton’s kicks had Ireland six points up after 13 minutes and the boys in green looked imperious… But it wasn’t to last.
Stuart Hogg burned pass the Irish from almost the halfway line and went over the line for a far-too-easy try which was converted by Greig Laidlaw.
The 9-10 scoreline in favour of Scotland was a misleading one, and this was proved on the 27 minute when CJ Stander went over the line to score Ireland’s first try of the half after some momentous pressure. Sexton nailed the difficult conversion to give Ireland a 16-10 lead.
Keith Earls went on to extend Ireland’s lead minutes later after Sexton caused chaos with a kick towards the Scottish tryline. Sexton missed the conversion in the end, but Ireland went in looking comfortable enough with a 21-13 lead, thanks to a Laidlaw penalty late in the half.
Here are some of the tweets that sum up the half:
Stander is a feckin beast #IREvSCO #RBS6Nations
— Pat Byrne (@PatByrned) March 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/EllvenaGraham/status/711239751056105473
#IREvSCO Genius try from Stuart Hogg regardless of what nation you follow.
— T. Morrissey (@ScissorsTony) March 19, 2016
Naughty from Stuart Hogg 🔥🔥
— AL🏴 (@AlexL_05) March 19, 2016
@CJStander @IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/npmjzATC8V
— Alona (@alonatroy) March 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheMarkDalton/status/711244348747358208
A new irish rugby star is born #cjstander
— Terry Doyle (@terdoyle) March 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/kevdaly1984/status/711245136039124993
https://twitter.com/MCopues/status/711246554426974208
