For all of the talk about Scotland putting it up to Ireland in Paris this evening for the Rugby World Cup, the performance from Andy Farrell's side could hardly have been more emphatic. It was a 22-point margin of victory in the end, a scoreline that in no way flattered the Six Nations champions.
The first half performance from Ireland was absolutely magnificent. Outside of a ten-minute period near the start of the contest, they were utterly dominant in every facet of the game.
Not only did they defend resolutely when called upon, but they also produced some remarkable free-flowing rugby at times. Their second try was one of the best we have seen in the tournament so far.
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𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎! ☘️
What a try from Ireland!!!#IREvSCO | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/6E0bjtheVH— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 7, 2023
That continued once the second half got underway, despite the Scots doing their best to get under the skin of their opponents. While Scotland would run in a couple of tries of their own in the final quarter, the game was well over as a contest at that point.
In the end, Ireland deservedly ran out as comfortable winners.
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Brian O'Driscoll comments will give Ireland fans Rugby World Cup hope
The challenges ahead of Ireland will only grow from here, with New Zealand waiting for them in a quarter-final next week.
In saying that, this team has shown over the last couple of years that they are more than capable of rising to any task put in front of them.
Speaking on ITV after the Scotland win, Brian O'Driscoll said that something just felt a bit different about this Ireland team in comparison to other sides that previously came up short in the Rugby World Cup.
It was a terrific team performance to a man, bench included. Everyone was very, very good when they came in. Their accuracy was fantastic, the cohesion was there from minute one.
Look, I think it was a massive statement of intent as to what this team has in store for anyone they come across.
Obviously it's a huge quarter-final next week against New Zealand. We don't have a good record against them at World Cups, but hopefully there is a different feeling to this outfit.
The quality just spread throughout the whole team, everyone had big moments and they shared it equally. They should be very proud.
Probably the celebrations are a bit more contained because the game was over at halftime as spectacle. Albeit Scotland won the second half with two tries to one, it was very very impressive from that Irish 23...
There's two aspects (why we should confidence). Defensively we're a vastly improved team in the last year, they're miserly and don't give up many scores.
Then the evolution of their game plan. Four years ago we came unstuck because we tried to do the same thing for two or three years, just a little bit better.
Everyone worked us out. Teams stayed off us for three of four phases and waited for the power play to come, then completely flattened us...
Layer on top of that, they're unbelievable at the ruck. Ten turnovers again tonight...
They're just putting all the pieces together very well, but it will still take a monumental performance against a very good All Blacks team.
A man who seems to have a growing confidence that Ireland could be about to pull off something special at the Rugby World Cup.
If Brian O'Driscoll believes it, perhaps the rest of us should get on board too. The next few weeks could be a very exciting time to be an Ireland rugby fan.
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