![Ireland celebrate with the Six Nations trophy](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/rugby-union/2024/03/16/TELEMMGLPICT000370837592_17106163288260_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq8ti_iRm5gRRLcQ7ECWCBfGPK_8G-4Vi1KhHJwK93-uQ.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Ireland win back-to-back Six Nations championships after fighting past Scotland
![Ireland celebrate with the Six Nations trophy](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/rugby-union/2024/03/16/TELEMMGLPICT000370837592_17106163288260_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq8ti_iRm5gRRLcQ7ECWCBfGPK_8G-4Vi1KhHJwK93-uQ.jpeg?imwidth=680)
This was a strangely unsatisfying game. A poor one in many respects, albeit not without its moments. But in the end Ireland got the job done. As they were always expected to, and as the form book strongly suggested they would.
It is now 19 home wins in a row for Andy Farrellâs men, and 10 consecutive wins against Scotland. As the great Brian OâDriscoll pointed out afterwards, many Ireland fans grew up in an era when back-to-back wins were a rarity, let alone back-to-back Six Nations titles. Some perspective is needed.
Ireland remain the best team in the northern hemisphere. âThe best in the world,â according to defeated Scotland captain Finn Russell. World champions South Africa, who they face on their summer tour in July, may have something to say about that. But one narrow defeat at Twickenham and a flat final-day performance against Scotland does not change the fact that Ireland are a seriously good team.
There were notable plus points this year in the emergence of youngsters such as âBig Joeâ McCarthy and Calvin Nash; in the way Jack Crowley answered the perennial Johnny Sexton question. The fact that Irelandâs long-time talisman and captain has hardly been mentioned over the last two months was hugely to his credit.
They were uncharacteristically poor here, though. Perhaps it was the pressure. Farrellâs men had already seen the opportunity to become the first team in the Six Nations era to achieve back-to-back Grand Slams go begging. They desperately wanted to put on a show for their fans on home soil and maybe that caused them to tighten up.
Perhaps it was the fact that rugby players are not designed to play five games in the space of six weeks. Both teams looked leggy here.
Whatever it was, it was a scrappy game. Farrell spoke beforehand of wanting to see his team âcommitting fully and attackingâ, describing this game as âa finalâ for Ireland. But they struggled to get their fluid phase-play going and failed to convert so many opportunities in Scotlandâs 22m.
In large part, that was down to Scotlandâs brave defensive performance. Steve Tandy had clearly picked up a few pointers from England and they put Ireland under serious pressure. Scotland managed 259 tackles in the final reckoning, with a 92 per cent success rate, to Irelandâs 143. Andy Christie made 27 of them on his own and would have been a shoo-in for player of the match had Scotland managed to score a try in the final minutes to snatch victory.
But Scotland did not offer a huge amount in attack. Russell, in particular, had a poor game ball in hand by his standards.
With rumours flying pre-match that Ireland captain Peter OâMahony was set to announce his retirement after the game â he would only go so far as to say post-match that he needed to have âa few chats with the familyâ, although the consensus appears to be that he will retire, but preferred not to take the limelight away from the team â there was a charged atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium.
But Scotland were quicker out of the traps. The brilliant Christie charged down James Loweâs early clearance inside the Ireland 22m only to see the ball narrowly bounce the wrong side of the corner flag. And Russell put them 3-0 up a few moments later after Lowe was, somewhat harshly, penalised for crawling.
Ireland hit back through a familiar face; Dan Sheehan with his fifth try of the tournament although this one was not from the back of a rolling maul. The Leinster hooker pounced on an overthrow from opposite man George Turner at a 5m line-out, taking the ball cleanly and charging over the line.
Another Russell penalty brought Scotland back to within a point and the visitors asked most of the questions for the remainder of the half, with debutant Stafford McDowall catching the eye after shrugging off the attentions of Bundee Aki and storming down the field.
Ireland picked up the intensity in the second half, dominating possession and territory. Tadhg Furlong thought he had scored from close range only for Christie to knock the ball out of his hand as he grounded. The TMO ruled no try.
Then Robbie Henshaw looked as if he had scored only for Cameron Redpath to get his arm under the ball brilliantly. Hooker Ewan Ashman saw yellow and with Scotland down to 14 men, the breakthrough finally arrived. Ireland took a quick penalty and Ronan Kelleherâs flick was grabbed by Porter who dived over from close range.
For Scotland, who had the opportunity to secure their first Triple Crown of the Six Nations era, the question marks remain. They must be the most frustrating team in the world to support.
While they were left to reflect on another campaign that promised so much but somehow delivered so little, Ireland were celebrating on the pitch with the Six Nations trophy, Zombie ringing out, their fans heading off into the Dublin night to enjoy St Patrickâs Day in style.
Match details
Scoring: 0-3 Russell pen; 5-3 Sheehan try; 7-3 Crowley con; 7-6 Russell pen; 10-6 Crowley pen; 15-6 Furlong try; 17-6 Crowley con; 17-11 Jones try; 17-13 Russell con.
Ireland: J Larmour (H Byrne 68), C Nash (G Ringrose 57), R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe, J Crowley, J Gibson-Park (C Murray 70); A Porter (C Healy 68), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 56), T Furlong (F Bealham 52), J McCarthy (R Baird 56), T Beirne, P OâMahony (J Conan 65), J van der Flier, C Doris.
Scotland: B Kinghorn (K Rowe 67), K Steyn, H Jones, S McDowall (C Redpath 62), D van der Merwe, F Russell, B White (G Horne 62); P Schoeman (R Sutherland 49), G Turner (E Ashman 49), Z Fagerson (J Sebastian 71), G Gilchrist, S Cummings (S Skinner 72), A Christie, R Darge (M Fagerson 62), J Dempsey.
Ireland v Scotland: As it happened
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell speaking to ITV
âWe were really good in phases again, but we gifted them the try in the first half. It sums up this campaign for us - up and down.
âWe need to get a lot better mentally for next yearâs campaign because we canât afford to be up ad down. We will get better, but itâs tough.
âIreland are the team to beat. In my opinion they are the best team in the world. The boys stood up today with a performance to be proud of.â
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell speaking to ITV
âThere were two sides going for a trophy. The conditions didnât help in the first half so it was a war of attrition. I am unbelievably delighted for the lads. To go back-to-back is hard to do, history tells you that.
âThe players committed to what they are about in the second half. They came out really strong.â
As he will be the head coach of the Lions in 2025, this will be Farrellâs last game with Ireland in the Six Nations until 2026.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend speaking to ITV
âAt half-time we felt very much in this game. It wasnât to be but it was a great effort from our players. They really had a go at Ireland.
âI would have liked us to be bolder in possession a couple more times in the third quarter. I felt when we did that in the first half it was two equal teams.
âIn the losses we had, we needed to do better to turn them into wins. Today was an improvement but narrow losses hurt you a lot.â
Andrew Porter speaking to ITV
âScotland are a team that always stick in there. You could see that in the last few minutes there, we were on the edge of our seats, credit to them.
âThey were a tough team to break down, their defence put it up to us. You just got to keep backing yourself and thatâs what we did. Pleased with the back-to-back championshipsâ.
More from Ireland captain Peter OâMahony
âWe werenât happy with the performance last week [against England] and knew we could do better. We had a job to go and do and thankfully we went out and did it against a seriously good Scottish side.
âI thought we showed a lot of grit and also ambition with the ball in a damp and greasy environment. I thought we played some good rugby. We talked about getting stuck in and probably put a lot of lead in their legs.â
The thoughts of man of the match Jamison Gibson-Park
âIt is incredible to win [the Six Nations] two years in a row, I canât thank the crowd enough. We had to stay in the fight. It was two good teams going at it and we were going for a championship.
âOur backs were against the wall a little bit [after last weekâs defeat to England] so I am unbelievably proud of the boys. The staff have managed to gouge out a performance.â
Is OâMahony retiring?
He was in tears during the anthems and there have been rumours swirling around about his potential international retirement but speaking after the game, Ireland captain Peter OâMahony says he is not sure whether this is it for him in an Ireland shirt.
Here is what he has had to say just moments ago:
âI donât know [if itâs my last game].
âI have chats to have with family over the next couple of weeks. If it was my last, it wasnât a bad one to go out on.â
Former Ireland winger Tommy Bowe on BBC Radio 5 Live
âScotland have battled so well but there have been errors at key moments. They had to be error free for the last few minutes, but that last knock-on was game over for them.
âIt wasnât vintage from Ireland but it doesnât matter because itâs another famous day for Irish rugby and they got the job done.â
79 minutes: Ireland 17 Scotland 13
M Fagerson knocks on and that could be it with only a minute remaining.
The bunker review has been completed and the yellow card is staying a yellow as it is deemed the danger is not high. Not sure you can call that ânot high dangerâ. There seemed very little mitigation there.
No try
Redpath has done brilliantly to hold up Henshaw but Ashman is going to the bin. Scotland will still be under huge pressure as they are down to 14 men and Ireland have the penalty.
OâMahony is being replaced by Conan. Is that the final time OâMahony has played for Ireland?
![Peter O'Mahony walks off waving after being substituted](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/rugby-union/2024/03/16/TELEMMGLPICT000370832956_17106143140790_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqkL0lcem2cU_vCky64vAiXIO2JF_w593QGlWaWVZxraI.jpeg?imwidth=350)
59 minutes: Ireland 10 Scotland 6
Referee Matthew Carley goes back to a Ireland penalty for early contact at the line-out. Crowley goes to the corner again.
Ireland are really knocking at the door now and you can sense the crowd anticipation building. One try and St Patrickâs Day is going to kick off.
57 minutes: Ireland 10 Scotland 6
That is a big mistake from Scotland. The ball is bobbling along the ground and Gilchrist gets his foot on it. It goes forward and Z Fagerson lands on it, but he is in front of Gilchrist so it is offside.
Ringrose has come on for Nash for Ireland. This is Ringroseâs first game in this yearâs competition.
Brian OâDriscoll on ITV
âScotland have been meeting Ireland and making trouble. Sometimes theyâre split or sometimes theyâve got 13 up front and two in the back just wanting to frustrate the life out of Ireland.
âThis isnât going to be a 15 point game. Itâs going to go down to the fine margins.â
OâMahony set to retire?
Funny old game so far. Ireland are leading but Scotland will undoubtedly be the happier team at the break. One lineout aberration aside - George Turnerâs overthrow on his own 5m line allowing Dan Sheehan to waltz in for the gameâs only try - the visitors have looked pretty solid, making good reads in defence. They have also played most of the rugby. Finn Russellâs passing has been a bit wayward but Scotland are well and truly in this game after 40mins which is all they could have hoped for. Ireland have been far from their fluent best. Perhaps that defeat by England last weekend knocked a bit of the confidence out of them?
The loss of Hugo Keenan just before kick-off would not have helped to calm their nerves, but there have been uncharacteristic handling errors and poor decision-making from Andy Farrellâs men. Big second half coming up. Possibly Peter OâMahonyâs final minutes in an Ireland shirt if rumours of his imminent international retirement are to be believed.
Live from Dublin
That first half was summed up in a way by Zander Fagerson making a nuisance of Irelandâs breakdown just when they were starting to get momentum, forcing Ireland wide and leading to a pass going into touch. Scotland have hustled very well in defence and, while this might sound greedy, might regret not putting together more in attack to have the lead, especially after that run from Stafford McDowall through Bundee Akiâs tackle.
Permutations
- If Ireland win, draw or secure two bonus points they will secure back-to-back Six Nations titles
- If Ireland lose without a bonus point, England could win the Six Nations with a bonus-point win against France
- For Scotland to win the Six Nations, they will have to beat Ireland with a bonus point, deny Ireland any bonus points and France to beat England
26 minutes: Ireland 7 Scotland 6
The lineout shocker aside, Scotland will be fairly happy. Fanning out in defence to not leave Ireland any space, which was the tactic Wales used here. Lots of ball meanwhile in attack but theyâre not committing enough Irish bodies into rucks to create any mismatches.
The Aviva a touch flat, perhaps nervy because Ireland yet to really fire a shot.
5 minutes: Ireland 0 Scotland 0
Scary moment for Ireland. Gibson-Park passes back to Lowe inside the Ireland 22 and Loweâs kick is charged down by Christie. The ball just runs into touch five metres out before Christie gets to it.
Scotland are awarded a free-kick five metres out but Ireland rip it away and clear their lines.
Kick off
Ireland captain Peter OâMahony was in tears during the anthems. Could this be his last game before international retirement?
We are under way in Dublin. Will Ireland secure back-to-back Six Nations titles?
Here we go then. Announcer has geed up the crowd by noting itâs been a brilliant week for Ireland already with Cillian Murphyâs Oscar and (just the) 18 Irish winners at Cheltenham. No pressure, lads.
Live in Dublin
Late change in the Scottish 23 with tighthead prop Elliot Millar-Mills dropping out from the bench and replaced by Javan Sebastian. Scotland need that scrum to hold firm given it has been shown up in big moments already in this championship, particularly in the defeats to France and Italy.
Grey but dry in Dublin at the moment. Donnacha OâCallaghan, the former Ireland lock decked in a green suit for St Patrickâs weekend, is on the mic doing his absolute hardest to drum up some atmosphere.
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan speaking to ITV
âIt stings losing a game youâre expected to win. We are going to take a few lessons from it, it was a tough review. Itâs going back to basics, the trust element.
âI loved the way Keith Wood played and scoring off the back of line-out. Rory Best as well. Itâs big shoes to fill. Something I grew up loving was attacking rugby. Sometimes I feel I need to focus more on the traditional set-piece side of rugby as well.
âScotland are a changing team and will be hungry for a win. Youâve got them coming over to spoil the party and a chance to win.â
![Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan during the team run](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/rugby-union/2024/03/16/TELEMMGLPICT000370668887_17106060093300_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqD3d2dmOlWYuQkR76XZjLQP4Xpit_DMGvdp2n7FDd82k.jpeg?imwidth=350)
Team news
Ireland are unchanged from the defeat to England which ended their hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams. After passing a head injury assessment, winger Calvin Nash is fit to start. Garry Ringrose is set to feature for the first time this year from the bench having missed the first few games of the tournament due to a shoulder injury.
Head coach Andy Farrell has opted to change to a five-three split on the bench, rather than the six-two they went for last weekend. There is no Iain Henderson in the matchday 23.
Ireland: Keenan; Nash, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; McCarthy, Beirne, OâMahony (capt), Van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, Bealham, Baird, Conan, Murray, H Byrne, Ringrose.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has decided to hand Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall his first Six Nations appearance. McDowall replaces Cameron Redpath at inside centre. At scrum-half Ben White replaces George Horne.
Loosehead prop Rory Sutherland is on the bench and is set to feature for the first time in this yearâs Six Nations. Jamie Ritchie, Ali Price and Alec Hepburn drop out of the squad. Scotland have been forced into a late change as Elliot Millar-Mills is out with a calf injury so Javan Sebastian has come onto the bench.
Scotland: Kinghorn, Steyn, Jones, McDowall, Van Der Merwe, Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, Christie, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Sebastian, Skinner, M Fagerson, Horne, Redpath, Rowe.
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Ireland hoping to win back-to-back Six Nations
It is time for the final round of the 2024 Six Nations and we are in Dublin as Ireland host Scotland.
Irelandâs hopes of consecutive Grand Slams were dashed at Twickenham last weekend thanks to Marcus Smithâs late drop goal to give England victory. Ireland are still firm favourites to retain the championship; if they avoid defeat or secure two bonus points they will win back-to-back Six Nations.
Despite their hopes of consecutive Grand Slams being ended last weekend, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has said that everyone would want to be in their position.
âAnti-climax? How many times have we won the Six Nations?â Farrell said.
âEveryone would love to be in our position. Weâve got to make sure weâre loving that challenge as well.
âIâve absolutely no doubt that they (Ireland supporters) 100 percent will be on song. Paddyâs weekend again, with the chance of winning a Six Nations.
![Ireland head coach Andy Farrell during the team run at the Aviva Stadium](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/rugby-union/2024/03/16/TELEMMGLPICT000370663578_17106018852420_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdP4Xpit_DMGvdp2n7FDd82k.jpeg?imwidth=350)
âIt could have been a little bit better but Grand Slams are unbelievably hard to come by. Six Nations are hard enough, as everyone would vouch for.â
Scotland suffered a shock 31-29 defeat in Rome last Saturday against Italy, which leaves Gregor Townsendâs side third in the standings heading into the final round.
Townsend is looking for his side to bounce back this afternoon.
âThere is a determination to be better. It is tough going through the reviews [when you lose]. But the players have been aligned about where we can improve, and there is no better challenge than Ireland away.
âWe have shown the best parts of ourselves in this championship at times, but we have also let our concentration slip and if we do that at the weekend we are not going to come away with a win.â
Last year Ireland beat Scotland 22-7 at Murrayfield on their way to winning the Grand Slam. The omens are not on Scotlandâs side this afternoon; Ireland have won the past nine meetings. The last time Scotland won in Dublin was back in 2010. Ireland have won 11 of their 12 home Six Nations games against Scotland.
These two sides met at the World Cup back in October, which Ireland ran out easy 36-14 winners as Scotland were knocked out in the group stages.