Rampant Irish put Scotland to the sword

Ireland 33, Scotland 9

Ireland, held to a draw by France and beaten narrowly by England, finished the season in style with a third victory in the Six Nations tournament. It was a worthy win fashioned with a huge first half attacking performance and a clinical display in the second period against the wind.

As Ireland continued a rampant run of success over Scotland at this level they have never lost it took them just five minutes to establish control when captain David Gannon ploughed over for a try that Gareth Steenson converted.

Six minutes later, Breffne O'Donnell made the crucial break to set up another fine try for Brian O'Connor which Steenson also converted.

The game was well and truly over as a contest a couple of minutes later when Richard Lane finished off a fine move out wide to touch down and Ireland led 19-0.

The Irish pack dominated the lineouts and scrums, were quicker to the breakdown despite the inevitable presence of impressive Scottish captain David Callam and, quite honestly, the Irish back line was marvellously effective.

After the opening surge of scoring, Brian Archibald clawed back three points for Scotland with a 20th minute penalty, but Bowe finished off another good Irish movement for a try six minutes later and Steenson again added the points.

At 26-3 there was no way back for the Scots, although they did try their best to make it a better day.

Archibald kicked penalties in the 5th and 12th minutes of the second period but it remained an uphill struggle.

Ireland defended brilliantly when they had to, and they counter-attacked to great effect. O'Connor's second try was top of the range and, after streaking through on a 30 yard run, had the luxury of having support to his left and right with only Archibald to face. He chose to go it alone and easily made it through the tackle for a try that Steenson again converted.

Ireland could have had further tries, but the final crucial tackles kept the score down.

Ireland: A. Finn (Dolphin), R. Lane (UCC), J. Hearty (Blackrock), B. O'Donnell (UL/Bohs), T. Bowe (UL/Bohs), G. Steenson (Queens), R. Shaw (Wasps), J. Wickham (Clontarf), D. Fogarty (Cork Con), K. Doyle (UCD), D. Gannon (Blackrock, captain), S. O'Connor (Cork Con), B. O'Connor (Cork Con), J. Heaslip (Dublin University), D. O'Brien (Old Belvedere). Replacements. T. O'Leary (Cork Con) for Shaw (53), G. Stafford (Lansdowne) for O'Donnell (68), O. Hennessy (Dungannon) for O'Brien (69), M. Glancy (Loughborough) for B. O'Connor (70), N. McComb (Dundee) for S. O'Connor, C. Geoghegan (UCD) for Doyle, S. Bennett (Bath) for Fogarty (all 78).

Scotland: B. Archibald, N. De Luca, I. Berthinussen, R. Dewey, C. Shaw, S. Jones, B. McKerchar, R. Blake, F. Thompson, J. Cox, I. Dryburgh, C. White, A. Strokosch, D. Callam, M. Cairns. Replacements: R. Ford for Thompson (60), P. Wilmhurst-Smith for White (63), W. Aitken for Cox (65).

Referee: R. Debney (England)