#IREvSCO Match Thread
New #Ireland head coach in Andy Farrell takes charge of a somewhat changed #Ireland, last seen being drubbed by #NZ in the #rugbyworldcup. Finn Russell is of course not in the #Scotland squad, Hopefully this will be a bit more even of a match than Wales' outing against Italy, but the bookies have Scotland 7 to 1 so... probably not. Scotland haven't beaten Ireland in Dublin since 2010
Ireland looking to offer a quick answer to Scotland's opening. Big run up field for Ireland, ending in a holding-on penalty. Sexton pops it to the corner, Ireland attack phases on the Scotland 5.
First scrum goes to Scotland after Ringrose loses the ball. Healy collapses and Scotland earn a penalty. Hastings lines up.
Scotland earn a dodgy penalty in their own half and Hogg smacks it way down field for a lineout inside the Ireland 22.
Ireland decisively kill the Scotland maul, and we have green scrum in the Irish 22. Two binds, two whistles. Third time's a charm? Ref has a word with the hookers. Stander comes out with the ball but Scotland is all over him, lots of disruption. Ireland retain possession though, and it's cleared into touch outside the 22, well short of where that box kick should have gone.
Very nice lineout from Scotland, they break up to the line, Scotland asking a lot of questions and knocking on the door, but Ireland get yet another turnover, squelching the advance.
Emotions running high this half hour. Scotland seem a little to eager to rewrite their showing at the World Cup. Ireland has all the legs but Scotland is fired up and it's leading to some over-emotional outbursts on and off the ball. Blue scrum inside the Ireland 22, to thunderous boos from the home crowd.
Scotland earn another penalty but it swings just wide right of the post. Maybe Hogg should've had that one instead. Ireland jump quickly back into play and the ball is almost immediately over the halfway leading to an Irish penalty which is kickable for Sexton, about 40 metres out.
Scotland cough up another stupid penalty, right in front of the ref. Waste.Amazon's rugby bots tell us there's a 91% chance of this kick going over. Thanks Amazon.
Well, sell your Amazon shares. Sexton missed.
Scotland pick off a long pass and run it all the way back, but lose it at the breakdown for holding on. Ireland kick to touch, but want to make Scotland feel better about missing touch so many times this half so the ball stays in for Scotland. Efforts are made but nothing worth tooting about. Half-time whistle blows and if nothing else, that was an entertaining 40 minutes.
Second half is under way! Ringrose has not returned. Ireland nicked four turnovers in the first half, but Stuart Hogg beat seven defencers. Ireland kick to corner for a good lineout, 10 metres from the Scottish tryline.
Scotland penalised for not moving away, Ireland play the advantage but it ends in nothing. Sexton opts for the sticks this time.
Price kicks a frustrated ball to nowhere but lucks out as Ireland try to run it back and step in to touch. Scotland's lineout is good and attack phases are underway. Hogg fumbles his way over and we're off to the TMO for the grounding.
Clearly lost forward but Scotland were playing advantage so back for the penalty. Meanwhile, Ireland looks to have another injury as Kilcoyne is stretchered off.
Ireland have all the carry metres, line breaks, turnovers, overall the stats say it's their game. But Scotland have done all the asking so far, and if they find a way to actually finish any of their moves this could be a closer game than you might think.
Ireland are back up to seven metres from the Scotland tryline, good clean lineout but Scotland defends the maul and Hamish Watson earns a penalty for the visitors. Solid defense.
Ten minutes to go, Scotland with the scrum just inside their half. Very close on the scoreboard, not so close on the stats. Hastings kicks it away - again - and Ireland make their attack. A high ball leads to obstruction leads to Ireland penalty leads to...
Heart-pounding multi-phase attack off a litany of pick and goes from Scotland. Inches away. The crowd is thunderous.
After roughly 400 pick and goes Ireland manage to squeeze a penalty from Scotland not releasing, relieving a tremendous amount of pressure. Two minutes to go.