Irresistible Ireland dominate Scotland to earn Rugby World Cup quarter-final against All Blacks

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Ireland’s Garry Ringrose scores a try.

Ireland 36

Scotland 14

THE SEA OF green in the stands brought goosebumps to the skin, while the wave of green on the pitch swept over Scotland. As The Fields of Athenry rang out again and again, the Scottish players were turned over and cut through time and time again.

It was relentless on and off the pitch as irresistible Ireland once again underlined their credentials as World Cup contenders with a superb performance to top Pool B, securing a quarter-final against New Zealand back here at Stade de France next Saturday night.

What looked and sounded like more than 60,000 Irish supporters among a crowd of nearly 79,000 in Paris ensured that this was a home game for Andy Farrell’s men once again. Whatever happens next, there’s no doubt that this was a special occasion. Ireland and their supporters were remarkable.

How the Irish players must have felt looking up into the mass of green as they sang Ireland’s Call. It was genuinely stirring to stand among it in Paris. Whatever emotions it provoked in the likes of Peter O’Mahony as he won his 100th Ireland cap, Farrell’s players steadied themselves and took Scotland apart with ruthless efficiency.

Picking the player of the match must have been difficult. Jamison Gibson-Park earned it for an all-action display.

The Irish lineout, an area of concern in recent weeks, was outstanding on Dan Sheehan’s throw as Iain Henderson called smartly and vindicated Farrell’s decision to pick him, while O’Mahony led the competition on the other side of the ball.

The Irish defence will have pleased them. Simon Easterby’s charges were ferocious, intelligent, hard-working and connected as they smothered the Scottish attack. Ireland will have been disappointed to concede twice in the final quarter but they had been brilliant defensively until that point.

The Irish breakdown work was lethal, whether with vicious clearouts in attack or turnover penalties from the likes of Caelan Doris and Andrew Porter in defence. 

Dan Sheridan / INPHO


Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

And the Irish attack was simply too good for the Scots. They shredded them, as well as physically overpowering them, yielding a brace of tries for fullback Hugo Keenan, as well as scores for Henderson, James Lowe, Sheehan, and Garry Ringrose.

Ireland had the bonus point notched before half time and after grabbing their fifth early in the second half, they enjoyed the luxury of taking captain Johnny Sexton off after just 45 minutes. 

Sheehan, Porter, Tadhg Furlong