Rampant Ireland roast Scots for six tries to seal Triple Crown and put pressure on France
SILVER LININGS: Ireland's Caelan Doris (centre) lifts the Triple Crown trophy with team-mates after the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Ireland claimed the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Triple Crown in style as they dashed Scotland’s hopes of a first trophy in 27 years on Saturday with a stunning six-try victory in Dublin.
The bonus-point win sent Calean Doris’s side to the top of the Six Nations table after the first of three final-round games on this Super Saturday, with France playing England in the last fixture with the chance to successfully defend the title in Paris if they emerge victorious at Stade de France.
At least second place is now guaranteed and regardless of their title hopes, there was plenty to celebrate at a sold-out Aviva Stadium that witnessed an enthralling encounter. Both sides played their parts despite the evident tension that comes with a chase for silverware. Ireland and Scotland exchanged tries throughout before two late scores from wing Tommy O’Brien, both converted by Jack Crowley finally took the game away from the visitors.
Jamie Osborne, Dan Sheehan, Rob Baloucoune and debutant Darragh Murray had preceded O’Brien’s double with Scotland scoring through Darcy Graham, Finn Russell and Rory Darge in a pulsating contest, Crowley kicking five conversions and a penalty while his fly-half counterpart Russell kicked all three of his two-pointers.
The bottom line, though, is that Scotland’s losing streak to the Irish has now been extended to 12-consecutive games in all competitions since a Murrayfield win in 2017 and their wait for a championship trophy of any kind now dates back to their 1999 Five Nations title.
Ireland captain Doris had asked for a return to the dominant performance that produced a record 42-21 away victory over England in round three and the No.8 had pinpointed a fast start as a key objective for his side against the Scots. That was what he got on a dry and sunny afternoon that made for perfect conditions.
A second-minute scrum penalty on Scottish ball was won by loosehead prop Tom O’Toole for standing up Scottish tighthead Zander Ferguson, an event which would have been an excellent early statement of intent regardless of what followed but the outcome was even better. With Jack Crowley kicking to the corner, Ireland struck off the five-metre lineout, quick ball reaching Jamie Osborne for the full-back to score under the posts.
Crowley’s simple conversion from in front made it 7-0 in the third minute but Scotland hit straight back as the visitors broke type and eschewed their free-flowing and fluid attacking patterns for building patiently through multi-phase play. They scored after 19 of them, the ball eventually reaching right wing Darcy Graham to score on seven minutes.
Graham had set the tone for the week with his suggestion Ireland “are there for the taking” after the Scots had given themselves a chance of silverware on the final day of the championship for the first time in Six Nations history and his try backed up those words, Finn Russell’s conversion from wide out making it 7-7.
Yet Ireland had the right of reply and they exercised it for the rest of the first quarter, with tries from Dan Sheehan and Rob Baloucoune. Hooker Sheehan’s second try of the tournament came from a smart finish off an Irish lineout drive from five metres out to reclaim the home lead in the 10th minute, with Crowley nailing his touchline conversion from the left wing.
Baloucoune grabbed his third try in four matches eight minutes later, as Ireland unleashed another strike play, this time from a scrum on the edge of the 22. Fast hands through the backs saw the ball reach inside centre Stuart McCloskey, whose long pass to the right wing found his Ulster team-mate in wide open space. Baloucoune still had work to do but the way he rounded Graham to stretch out a long arm and score was made to look easy by a player who has been one of the standout Irish performers in this Six Nations.
Though the conversion from the right touchline was narrowly missed by Crowley, Ireland had a 19-7 lead which they took to the half-time break without coming under any serious pressure from Scotland.
It was a different matter straight after the interval as Ireland were forced onto the back foot, the Scots exerting pressure inside the home 22, and getting their reward when Russell worked his magic to wrong-foot Jamison Gibson-Park with a show and go on the line, before converting his own score to make it 19-14 in the 52nd minute.
It set in train a rollercoaster second half, Ireland responding through debutant lock Darragh Murray in the 54th minute. Murray had been a blood replacement for Tadhg Beirne four minutes later and he did the starting second row with his finish from close range as Ireland hammered at the Scottish line.
That brought up Ireland’s try bonus point and Crowley’s conversion made it 26-14 but back came Scotland again, Rory Darge helping his side keep pace with the Irish as he stepped inside Crowley to score on the hour mark. Russell’s perfect afternoon off the tee continued with a conversion that narrowed the gap to 26-21.
Ireland boss Farrell turned to his replacements virtually en masse in the 65th minute and the fresh impetus was almost immediate, starting wing Tommy O’Brien assisted by Ciaran Frawley’s final pass of an excellent move with Crowley adding the extras to make it 33-21 on 68 minutes.
A penalty from the fly-half five minutes later stretched the lead to 15 points as Scotland’s hopes began to die with time running out and their efforts to close a three-score lead were extinguished when Beirne and Nick Timoney made a turnover to win a ruck penalty on the Irish tryline.
As the Aviva resonated to a mass rendition of Fields of Athenry, Scottish misery was complete when O’Brien raced down the left on 80 minutes to score his second of the half and Ireland’s seventh try, Crowley’s conversion ending the game as the celebrations began along with the wait for Ireland’s title fate.
J Osborne; R Baloucoune (C Frawley, 65), G Ringrose (B Aki, 65), S McCloskey, T O’Brien; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park (C Casey, 77); T O’Toole (M Milne, 65), D Sheehan (R Kelleher, 65), T Furlong (F Bealham, 65); J McCarthy (D Murray, 65), T Beirne (D Murray, 50-60 - blood); J Conan, J van der Flier (N Timoney, 52), C Doris - captain.
B Kinghorn; D Graham (K Rowe, 65, T Jordan, 68), H Jones, S Tuipulotu – captain, K Steyn; F Russell, B White (G Horne, 61); P Schoeman (R Sutherland, 68), G Turner (E Ashman, 17 - HIA), Z Fagerson (D Rae, 68), M Williamson (A Craig, 61), G Gilchrist; M Fagerson, R Darge, J Dempsey (M Bradbury, 61).
Luke Pearce (England)
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