So that’s that from me. It’s been very enjoyable and we will speak soon, no doubt.
In the meantime, it’s Le Crunch. And England’s chance of a Slam. Dan Lucas has the MBM for that here. Go say hi and play nice, folks!
Looks like the players kissed and made up at the end of term after a fractious last quarter.
I enjoyed that, and thank you for joining me. It was pretty fast and loose and both sides were good value. Stuart Hogg’s try was blooming marvellous but the Irish were good value. The ref didn’t fancy the Scots I’d say, and their two yellow cards were extremely costly indeed, with 19 points shifted while they were down to 14. Greig Laidlaw looks pretty peeved as he chats to Martin Bayfield.
Here’s some of today’s fun in video form:
Hogg’s marvellous try is here:
And then, shortly after, his mix up with Seymour that led to Earls’ try
Updated
So, some news for you! Scotland have finished with a positive points difference for the first time in the Six Nations era! How mad is that?!
These two are both mid-table lads, but the Irish now can’t finish 5th, as theyhad feared. If England take the Slam, Ireland will be third and the Scots fourth.
Full-time: Ireland 35-25 Scotland
Eoin Reddan is on for Murray and I think he wants to finish itnstraight from the scrum, but Heaslip’s having none of it, picking and going. After some nice rumble from the forwards it comes to nothing with a knock on and that, as they say, is that. Fun game, that, with seven tries. Weird, but fun.
79 min Oh dear, Josh Strauss knocks on from the kick off. That’s rubbish.
Try! (Dunbar 78) Ireland 35-25 Ireland
Dunbar’s back and crosses straight away! There are some lovely flucky hands from the back and over he goes in the corner. Laidlaw misses the conversion as they all rush back.
77 min Sutherland, on debut, is heavily involvwd in some meaty carrying from the Sctos but they cannae get through. There’s another penalty which Lamont taps as Dubar returns to the fray.
Yellow card! Sexton, 76
Scotland float it long to Barclay, and rumble a maul. Again, they look like scoring and again the penalty comes. Surely it’s card time? Yeah, off Sexton is sent. Laidlaw taps and goes.
![Ireland ‘s Jonathan Sexton leaves the pitch after being shown the yellow card by referee Pascal Gauzere.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160613041017im_/https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d16d343d627274be2704b6bf035e00c8c390aa98/655_308_3952_2280/master/3952.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=00867fa0926a94367e8915222e84218e)
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75 min Scotland are burrowing away and Laidlaw almist goes over, before another penalty and more handbags come. No idea why, but there’s loads of niggle out there. The pen is five metres out and sent to the corner again.
74 min Eventually they getright down into the left corner, and they think they’ve been obstructed. It’s a late tackle an an obstruction from Trimble on Barclay (who had kicked!) and Sctoland send it to the corner.
Updated
73 min Somehow Scotland come away with it from the scrum and they run from deep again. Dunbar still has four minutes in the bin but his team mates don’t seem to care a great deal. They are running from everywhere, and aren’t getting too far in wide narrow channels.
71 min After a brief bit of maul fun, that’s lovely stuff from Ireland in midfield. Payne’s run is lovely and it’s a vintage Irish wrap around but eventuallythe ball goes forward as it looks like it might all be opening up.
70 mins Sexton nurdles another lovely nudge through, and Hogg slices it out.
69 min Looks like Horne’s attempted tackle on Toner as he went over is what caused the brouhaha. Who knows though. The wheels have really come off for Scotland and they’ve kicked it out on the full from the restart again, which is just rubbish rugby. No excuses. Ireland will win this now.
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) March 19, 2016Scotland have lost their heads and will lose this game.
Try! (Toner, 68) Ireland 35-20 Scotland
![Ireland’s Devin Toner scores their fourth try.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160613041017im_/https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9124da745b7e00600c82a7972ace6856865451ea/612_265_1289_1289/master/1289.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=790b5c5d411b96cf40a440f4b39266ec)
Scotland are immediately punished, as there’s a maul and Ireland take it through the hands and Toner rumbles over under the posts for his first Test try. Immediately after there’s masses of handbags, involving just about everyone on the field. As Sexton converts, the skips are told off. I’ve no idea how or why that all happened.
Updated
Some suggesting Sexton may have been looking for it...
— Lewis Moody (@LewisMoody7) March 19, 2016Come on sexton we are not footballers.
Yellow card! Dunbar, 67
![Scotland’s Alex Dunbar is shown the yellow card by referee Pascal Gauzere.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160613041017im_/https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ec0e77b5f180db486c69522e849e62fad4ca21a1/338_184_2793_2792/master/2793.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=fab5d0a42548847e3d5165fcf58d6bb3)
Best aims for Ryan but Scotland pinch it and run once more. What’s happened here? Sexton looks to have been sort of flicked over, and it’s not that pretty. Dunbar the offender, looks like he’s turned him beyind the horizontal, which spells trouble. Penalty given but there’s a yellow card too. Tricky to officiate that, but I agree with the outcome. Penalty to Ireland on halfway.
![Jonathan Sexton is tackled by Scotland’s Alex Dunbar.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160613041017im_/https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f508df91dfa432a3bf716960bf279f44cd200e14/1929_46_2629_2630/master/2629.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=7a7b6e2d52740a63bf44da75e0ecb7b7)
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66 min Sexton stays on and kicks for touch. Rory Sutherland is on for debut for Scotland. Well done that man.
65 min The high risk stuff continues from Scotland as McInally and Taylor trade passes nicely, but eventually the ball goes forward and there’s a penalty too. Sexton looks in some discomfort, and his ankle is being strapped.
64 min From the scrum, Sexton threads one down toward Hogg on the left hand side, who returns it to Zebo, who has a lovely little dart before Sexton grubbers again. Horne does brilliantly not to be turned over and the penalty comes, which Laidlaw takes quickly. They go from deep again.
62 min Weir kicks for - and finds - touch but it’s his last act as he’s replaced by Peter Horne. Expect Scotland to be a wee bit more fluid now. Silky operator is Horne. McInally has done well since coming on and he finds Swinson, but off the top it’s knocked on in the midfield by a grizzled looking Alex Dunbar. Harley replaced Swinson.
61 min Up Scotland trundle forward as the Irish crowd make themselves heard. Scotland are still trying to run from deep! They really don’t want to kick. As I type that, Weir kicks. Long and into space it goes and OPayne leads the charge back. Sexton and Visser trade kicks before Weir goes on a meander and earns a penalty as O’Donnell comes in at the side again.
59 min Ryan flicks off the top, and Murray has half a break after one phase. Down the near side they go, but eventually Zebo knocks on. Scotland run from very deep! Long passes on their own line aren’t adviasable but they work, and they escape.
58 min Nel rumbles forward, and finally Duncan Weir kicks, but that’s not clever. It’s gone straight out because Zebo takes it smarly with one foor in and one out. Ireland throw just outside the 22.
57 min Scotland are still in this and I’m not really sure how! Duncan Taylor is having another good game. I’m a massive fan of his work. They run from deep before a cross kick comes in which Tommy Seymour takes well. They still can’t get out of their 22, mind.
Try! (Richie Gray 55) Ireland 28-20 Scotland
![Scotland’s Richie Gray has an easy try.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160613041017im_/https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11c30ae3b67b99cd4351cd8a051aebb41ae47ed2/852_161_2219_2219/master/2219.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=54ecc08c308b13e2cbf3f1a20a1d0032)
McInally finds Big Swino and it comes out to Visser, who half-breaks. Taylor takes them to within five, McInally and Nel carry. Ireland slow it down but commit too many men, so when it comes out to Gray he’s able to just amble over unopposed. Nice try. Laidlaw adds two from in front.
Updated
53 min This is Scotland’s first put in! Long time coming, eh. Laidlaw gets it back and feeeds out to Seymour who charges. Huge hit goes in from Payne on Weit but there’s a penalty given against O’Donnell for coming in at the side. Weir sends it to the the corner. Strauss on for Hardie.
52 min Some phaseplay from the Scots, for once. Eventually Earls dirupts but it’s knocked on and goes out and all sorts of other fumbles. Scrum to Scotland in the Irish half.
50 min Ireland kick long from their 22 to Hogg, who sets off on one of his darts. McInally’s on for Ford, by the way. Visser loses the ball in contact, and Zebo fires a beautiful kick downfield. Doesn’t go into touch.
Try! (Murray, 48) Ireland 28-13 Scotland
![Ireland’s Conor Murray scores their third try.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160613041017im_/https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d91169ac4037e568e978ce646150cf0ceb5a10a9/0_697_3500_1405/master/3500.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=6fad4ad865127eb04d9ea0f6f366fc6b)
Scotland don’t challenge and Tommy O’Donnell’s got the ball at the back of the rolling maul, as Ireland chug forward. They get close but Scotland defend stoically. But Murray has crept through from close range! Nel was drawn in and Murray just crept round to score. Smart finish. Murray the first Irish scrum-half to score three tries in the Six Nations, if stats are your thing. Sexton adds the extras.
Updated
47 min Toner claims Best’s throw, and the Scots give away a penalty. We go again.
46 min O’Donnell charges through the middle, and Payne offloads to Henshaw who breaks down the near side. Eventually, just at the big moment, Weir nips in and runs it out in the corner. Vital interception and Ireland have a lineout.
45 min Ireland keep it pretty tight and another contestable bomb goes up, which Weir takes well on halway. Scorland probe, but don’t get far, and Weit kicks to Zebo, who recycles.
43 min The scrums have been strangely steady so far in this match but we have a reset here, of course we do. It’s Ireland’s put in just outside their 22. So blooming frustrating. Eventually Heaslip picks up at the base and then Sexton kicks downfield. Hogg sends it back and Murray fields well.
41 min A little Weir half-break take Scotland out of the 22 and Ireland give away a penalty. Laidlaw takes it quickly and through his hands and Hogg’s they make about 4o metres, before Swinson and Dunbar give some go-forward. Richie Gray rumbles up on the left hand side before Weir throws a forward pass which Seymour knocks on. Silly Scotland.
The second haf is underway...
The payers are out and we are off. Ireland had an absured 81% possession in the first half, but only lead by 8. Sexton gets us going.
Here’s that Hogg score. It really is very lovely indeed.
Does anyone have that try’s number? Think I want to run off to Paris with it. My parents would certainly approve if I introduced them to it.
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 19, 2016TRY! A moment of magic from Stuart Hogg – brought to you by @PeugeotUK #PeugeotRugby #IREvSCO
https://t.co/w8xoy71y2A
This was Scotland’s calamitous moment that led to Ireland’s second try. Johnny Sexton’s lovely dinky nudge bounced awkwardly for Hogg and Seymour, and it bounced into Keith Earls’ hands. Easy.
![Hogg and Seymour make a meal of Sexton’s kick and Earls swoops into score.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160613041017im_/https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f66f5c6e5e191e8f9a5ac8d4997cfb2c781a3a6b/779_0_3403_3402/master/3403.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=ea24b174a5ba65d41510b50a0bff9fc8)
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Dan Lucas, MBMer-in-chief, has just given me a very neat little stat. On the outrageous mazy run for his score, Stuart Hogg ran 59 metres. The Scots have made just 87 metres with ball in hand all half! CJ Stander on his own, made 16 carries on his own that half. Serious effort.
Updated
Half-time! Ireland 21-Scotland 13
...and that’ the last action of the half. It’s been a bit of a mess, to be honest. The Scottish penalty count - the breakdown has been particularly tricky for them - has been astronomical, and the Irish back row have been outstanding.
We have, however, seen a belter of a try from Stuart Hogg. Will try find a video of it for you ASAP. Ludicrous run. Ludicrous player.
Let’s speak in five when I’ve calmed down.
Penalty! (Laidlaw, 40) Ireland 21-Scotland 13
Evenutally, with the Irish trying to counter-attack, the Scots turn the ball over and the penalty comes. 42 metres out and slightly to the left, Laidlaw has no hesitation in going for the posts. Through it goes and the flags go up.
38 min Ford finds Gray at the lineout, and Duncan Taylor goes for a wee rumble in the midfield. It goes wide and Dunbar carries. Going back the other way, Taylor finds a neat flick and it’s kicked into the 22, where the bounce denies the Scots. The ball is refusing to go out of play!
36 min Eventually the Scots get a penalty at the breakdown, and John Barclay will return to the field. Great work from WP Nel. Weir kicks to the right hand touch line.
35 min John Hardie hasn’t had his most conspicuous game of the season but he’s making a nuisance of himself in the air and on the floor now. Ireland go wide and it finds McGrath who recycles and it comes back to Heaslip who brings some thunder. Just probing away are Ireland.