Ireland are three from three at this year's World Cup. A team riding high off the back of 16 straight wins in Test match rugby. Scotland are now the only thing that stands between Ireland and a quarter final berth. Ireland have a superb record in recent times but none more so than against the Scots.
It has been over six years since Ireland lost to Scotland and that is the only time they have tasted defeat against them since 2013. With Ireland requiring a win against Scotland this Saturday to go through top of their pool at this year's Rugby World Cup, it seemed only fitting to look back on the last time Ireland lost to Scotland, back in 2017.
This is not a defeat to rival some of Ireland's worst, such as the disaster of Rome 2013. If anything this is a classic Test match with the ebbs and flows that any great six nations game has. Although, while Scottish fans will likely be watching replays of this encounter at Murrayfield in the build-up to kick off this weekend, it is not a game many Irish fans will remember fondly, if at all.
The Ireland Team
- Jack McGrath
- Rory Best (c)
- Tadhg Furlong
- Iain Henderson
- Devin Toner
- CJ Stander
- Sean O'Brien
- Jamie Heaslip
- Conor Murray
- Paddy Jackson
- Simon Zebo
- Robbie Henshaw
- Garry Ringrose
- Keith Earls
- Rob Kearney
Bench: Niall Scannell, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Josh Van der Flier, Kieran Marmion, Ian Keatley, Tommy Bowe.
Scotland's early onslaught
The old adage in sport of "they haven't got off the bus" could not be applied better than in this situation. Ireland arrived at Murrayfield late for their opening Six Nations encounter after local police took an 'alternative route' to the venue
SUPER shot of the Ireland team bus arriving at BT Murrayfield Stadium ahead of Six Nations clash against Scotland. Photo by Ramsey Cardy. pic.twitter.com/BDfSIqkrr5
— Connaught Telegraph (@thecontel) February 4, 2017
Ireland were late in turning up as a team for the first half as well, where despite some early dominance up front it was Scotland who made the initial breakthrough. After phases on the Irish line, the ball was given to a heavily bandaged Finn Russell who flung a long pass in to space where it was collected by Stuart Hogg on the bounce as he raced in for the opening try. 7-0 Scotland.
It was 12 minutes later, mid way through the first half, Scotland would strike again. After a strong initial carry from Josh Strauss over the Irish ten metre line, it was once again the majesty of Finn Russell's pass to Huw Jones which opened up the space for Stuart Hogg to take off in the outside channel. His show and go sending Rob Kearney to the shops as the Scottish fullback claimed a second try of the afternoon, making Hogg Scotland's all time leading try scorer in the competition. 14-0 Scotland.
Ireland break the shackles
Ireland fought back only minutes later, after once again asserting their dominance through the forward pack. They earned a penalty advantage from referee Romain Poite, as Zebo attempted his best Finn Russell impression sending a skip pass across three Irish attackers. The ball was nearly intercepted but as it was deflected it fell in to the welcoming arms of Keith Earls who finished smartly in the corner. Jackson failed to add the extras and the score remained 14-5.
'Great little play'
As Irish fans, I fear this moment is the one event from this game that lives in the memory. After finally establishing themselves on the score board, Ireland allowed Scotland back in to the game soon after with disciplinary errors leading to a line out on the Irish five metre line.
Scotland arranged a 10 man line out including Hamish Watson in the scrum half role, with Alex Dunbar and former Ulster product Tommy Seymour placed at the front. While Ireland arranged to defend the forwards at the middle and back of the line out, Ross Ford threw a flat ball to Dunbar who was over the Irish line before their forward pack had even turned around. Current Ireland forwards coach, Paul O'Connell, was on the commentary at the time and said, "Outstanding play, very tricky little play. No lift, no jump, just puts it over the top of Greg Laidlaw at the front of the line out, very simple. Great little play."
Irish comeback
In the second half Ireland mounted a comeback effort. With the score at 21-8 after a Jackson penalty, Ireland played the kind of attritional rugby they became so famed for under Joe Schmidt. Their great strength was their discipline and they mounted an 8 phase attack on the Scottish line resulting in Iain Henderson diving over from half a metre out. Ireland now within a score at 21-15.
As he rolled back the years, a scintillating burst from Rob Kearney in to the Scottish 22 nearly yielded a third Irish try but for a superb tackle from Sean Maitland. Off the back of this Ireland mounted another titanic offensive. After 15 phases, Ulster fly half Paddy Jackson picked a sensational line to carve open the Scottish defence and score. He would add the conversion and with 18 minutes to go Ireland had the lead for the first time.
Scotland close it out
Despite Ireland having sustained pressure in the Scottish 22 for much of the next ten minutes, it would be Scotland who earned a penalty in front of the posts as Jackson failed to roll away at a breakdown. It was only the 4th penalty Ireland had given away. Laidlaw gleefully accepted 3 points and with 10 minutes to go, Scotland led 24-22.
Over the next seven minutes Scotland toiled, while Ireland failed to make a final drive down the field and collect the points they needed. It would be Scotland who earned a fifth penalty of the day with a minute to go. Laidlaw kicked it through with the clock in the red.
Final score: Scotland 27-22 Ireland
Defeat at the hands of Scotland has not been a common occurrence for Ireland in recent times. Losing to Scotland has been associated with some of the worst times in Irish rugby, need we be reminded of Ronan O'Gara's final match in a green jersey.
However, as the Irish team and fans should well know, this Saturday may as well be Scotland's World Cup final, it is 'lose and go home' territory. So, if ever there was a perfect blueprint for the kind of open, expansive and altogether helter-skelter kind of test match Gregor Townsend will be hoping for on Saturday, this 2017 classic is exactly that.
