How Ireland rated against Scots: Porter brings the clatters and Gibson-Park the reads
16 March 2024; Ireland players, Josh van der Flier, bottom, and Rónan Kelleher celebrate after team-mate Andrew Porter, hidden, score their side's second try during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
A late call-up after Hugo Keenan pulled out with a hip injury, Larmour was making his first start in almost three years, a remarkable length of absence. Little sign of dancing feet, one horrible knock-out but kept plugging away.
Busy and never bashful. Nash went looking for work despite his early withdrawal against England with a head knock, providing deft touches as one offload under pressure in the tackle to Bundee Aki illustrated. Came close on a cut-back run but lost the ball.
Quiet and nervy. It was not a day for the wide open spaces but Henshaw stuck to his task realising that patience would be a virtue and was almost on the scoresheet only to be held up over the line. A few fumbles and late missed tackle on try-scorer, Huw Jones, blotted copybook.
Sturdy as ever. In such a tight contest, there was little scope for Aki to show his trademark punch-up through the middle, the centre instead showing his defensive worth with low tackles, one blooper on Stafford McDowall apart.
Fair and a little bit foul. The wing was always on the move, working hard to find space, popping up hither and yon with typical whole-hearted gusto but his kicking from hand was awry at times and ceded early penalty. Kept at it.
Settled well. This was supposed to be a transition tournament for Sexton’s successor but Crowley has been to the manor born, orchestrating plays and bringing in those around him. Plenty of deft stabbed kicks to try to breach strung-out defensive line.
Customary energy and involvements, chasing Finn Russell across the field at one point to collar him from behind. Great defensive reads and managed to bring the intensity Ireland needed in the second half.
Always in the thick of it. Porter made himself available for the heavy-duty short-range clatters as Ireland tried to make progress through a cluttered Scottish defence. Solid as ever in the set-piece and was the man to nab the decisive try.
Marksman supreme. Sheehan has been at the heart of so much that has been good in the Irish game, be it as the lineout thrower or, as was shown vividly again, as a poacher near the try-line. Alert for his opportunistic score, his tenth in 26 caps.
Workmanlike in a gritty contest. Furlong had to do the hard yards and he was a willing contributor in what open play there was, ensuring also that he tended to the basics, helping to win a scrum penalty before a neck injury.
Big and burly in those close-quarter exchanges. After such a high-profile start to the tournament McCarthy has had to settle down to the meat-and-drink chores of his trade.
To the fore. Beirne was first out onto the pitch to mark his 50th cap and there was to be no resting on laurels thereafter with the Munster lock prominent at the lineout as well as in the loose.
Tearful and emotional, a warrior ends his days? There was plenty of speculation that O’Mahony will be calling time on his illustrious test career and he was as down-to-earth and reliable in his work before being replaced just after the hour mark.
Nuggety and responsible. There was little opportunity for the fast-moving flanker to show his paces around the park but he knuckled down to the task, chiselling away at the coal face.
Unglamourous but willing. Doris had to toil in this sort of game, graft and sweat to get any purchase but he was up to the job in what was a fiercely contested tussle.
Back to convention, back to the more established bench format of a 5/3 split. Ireland were able to avoid the disruption of last weekend’s injuries and certainly needed their bench to bring them some momentum in the second half. Even so, there were a few glitches in their make-up with Garry Ringrose showing his rustiness with a flagrant knock-on before redeeming himself with a galloping run down the wing teed up an important position. Ronan Kelleher was in the thick of things after bombing an early lineout. Finlay Bealham was an able assistant at the scrummaging sharp end, Cian Healy also. Ireland just about managed to hang on for glory after late Scottish try.
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