Jamie Heaslip starred for Ireland as the reigning champions forfeited their crown but ended a disappointing Six Nations on a high with a 35-25 win over Scotland at Aviva Stadium.
Ireland scored four times on the day but it was Scotland’s ill-discipline that provided Ireland with the platform time and again.
Scotland were the most disciplined side coming into the game, but John Barclay and Alex Dunbar were sent to the bin either side of half-time as Ireland took a stranglehold of the game with 19 points during their time in the bin.
Johnny Sexton finished in the sin-bin too but the tries from CJ Stander, Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Devin Toner were good enough to seal Ireland’s second win of the championship and a third-placed finish.
Scotland got three tries on the day through Stuart Hogg, Richie Gray and Alex Dunbar but it wasn’t enough in the end.
Ireland made the perfect start and had 90% possession in the first 15 minutes, but despite their domination of the breakdown and clinical phase play, they only led 6-3.
The Irish scrum was steady – despite the much lauded Scottish pack who dominated France – the backline was full of imagination, while Rory Best and Stander made some big carries for the hard yards.
Sexton pegged Scotland deep into their own 22 when he landed a kick directly over the head of Tim Visser and from there Ireland earned their first penalty.
John Barclay was pinged for being on the wrong side of the ruck and Sexton made no mistake from the penalty for a 3-0 lead. In doing so he moved second in Ireland’s all-time points-scoring record, ahead of David Humphreys.
Sexton missed his second kick but doubled Ireland’s lead from just outside the ten-metre line after WP Nel was caught off-side.
Even though Ireland were in complete control, Scotland edged their way back into the game when Mike Ross was penalised for not rolling away and Greig Laidlaw slotted the penalty.
Sexton cancelled that out with his third penalty for a 9-3 lead, but despite being dominated Scotland soon had the lead. Building on his man-of-the-match display against France, Hogg split the Irish defence and left Ross and Best in his wake as he raced home from halfway.
Laidlaw’s conversion made it 10-9 to Scotland, giving them the lead for the first time after 21 minutes.
But crucially Scotland continued to infringe and Barclay was eventually sent to the bin when he came in from the side at a ruck close to the Scottish line.
Crucially, Ireland dotted down twice during the sin-binning period as they turned the screw, and finally took advantage of their hard work.
Stander scored a try in the 28th minute – Ireland had pulverised the Scottish defence and come within inches of the line before his lunge got the ball over for his second international try. And Sexton converted, his fourth of the day, as Ireland took a commanding lead.
Earls then got his name on the scoresheet on his 50th cap when a couple of Scottish defenders collided as they chased Sexton’s kick through, but the Leinster out-half missed the conversion and Barclay returned with Scotland 21-10 down.
Ireland had 81% possession by half-time, but Ross Ford won an important penalty before the break and Laidlaw made it 21-13 with the final kick.
Scotland had already made 92 tackles to Ireland’s 24, but Vern Cotter’s men looked reinvigorated after the break. However they were still only hanging on at times.
On one occasion Ireland had an overlap down the right, and when Jared Payne gave a nice off-load to Robbie Henshaw, the Connacht centre sped down the right wing but Duncan Weir got back in time.
That gave Ireland a line-out five metres from the Scottish line. They failed on their first attempt but won a penalty and Sexton kicked to the corner.
Toner won the line-out, and although the maul was hauled to the ground, a couple of pick-and-goes followed before Murray dived over for his third try of the tournament. Sexton’s conversion gave Ireland a 28-13 lead with 30 minutes remaining.
Scotland needed to score next to have any chance but they found a new level and bashed their way up to within inches of the line.
Nel was held just short of the try line but the defence was sucked in and Gray had the easy route through, and he touched down under the posts.
Laidlaw made the conversion but the game turned back in Ireland’s favour when Dunbar was sent to the bin for a tip-tackle on Sexton.
Scotland were in the ascendency at that stage, and after Sexton sent the ball to the corner Ireland worked their way in field for the rangy figure of Toner to launch his way over.
Sexton landed the conversion, his sixth success from eight on the day and Ireland finally had a big enough lead.
Late on Sexton was sent to the bin for coming in from the side in the 77th minute as tempers on both sides became frayed, and Scotland had one final consolation when Dunbar crossed in the corner.
Scorers – Ireland: CJ Stander, K Earls, C Murray, D Toner tries; J Sexton 3 pens, 3 cons. Scotland: S Hogg, R Gray, A Dunbar tries; G Laidlaw 2 pens, 2 cons.
Ireland: S Zebo; A Trimble, J Payne, R Henshaw, K Earls; J Sexton, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; D Ryan, D Toner; CJ Stander, T O’Donnell, J Heaslip.
Replacements: N White for Ross (63mins), R Strauss for Best (68), C Healy for McGrath (68), U Dillane for Ryan (70), R Ruddock for O’Donnell (70), E Reddan for Murray (79), F McFadden for Trimble (79).
Scotland: S Hogg; T Seymour, D Taylor, A Dunbar, T Visser; D Weir, G Laidlaw; A Dickinson, R Ford, W Nel; R Gray, T Swinson; J Barclay, J Hardie, R Wilson.
Replacements: S McInally for Ford (51mins), J Strauss for Hardie (53), P Horne for Weir (63), R Harley for Swinson (63), R Sutherland for Dickinson (67), M Low for Nel (68), S Lamont for Visser (69).
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
