Ireland hosted Scotland in their Autumn Nations Cup final on Saturday, with both sides looking for a big performance after struggling during the tournament.
Scotland came into the match on the back of a 22-15 loss to a young French side, after earning a 28-17 win over Italy. They were unable to play the third team in their Autumn Nations Cup group, Fiji, due to COVID-19.
Ireland, on the other hand were convincing against Wales in their first match of the tournament, winning 31-9.
Andy Farrell's men were then bullied by a physical England, losing 18-7, and were very unconvincing in their 23-10 victory over a game Georgia last week.
Both sides were looking to get their final game of 2020 off to a good start, with Ireland being the first to threaten the opposition line.
Peter O'Mahony got the ball inside the Scottish 22m, and put through a grubber for Jacob Stockdale to chase that went out in the corner.
The right idea from O'Mahony, just too much on the kick. Space was there.
A big aerial win from Ireland just before.#IREvSCO— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) December 5, 2020
Johnny Sexton had the an opportunity to get the first points of the match, however he pushed the penalty wide, which allowed Scotland to try and build their first attack from inside their own half.
Sexton drags his first kick at goal to the left and wide
Live now on @rte2 and @rteplayer #rterugby #irevsco https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/EZuQbp1EgY— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
Scotland were unable to get their first points of the match a few minutes later, though, as Jaco van der Walt missed his first international kick from a similar angle and distance to Sexton's earlier miss.
He made no mistake in his second effort, though, as Van der Walt put Scotland into the lead with just under 15 minutes played.
No mistake this time from Van Der Walt. 3-0 to Scotland #irevsco live now on @rteplayer and @rte2 #rterugby https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/Ius1p87MwD
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
Ireland's scrum woes from a wee ago continued early in the game, as they gave away a few penalties early on. Van der Walt took the visitors further, with another simple penalty.
Alarming just how much the Irish scrum has deteriorated in the space of 12 months. From 2015 until 2019 (including the World Cup) it was as good as anybody's in the world. #IREvSCO
— Neil Treacy (@neil_treacy) December 5, 2020
Cian Healy penalised for pulling down the scrum and Van Der Walt did the needful from the tee. 6-0 to Scotland #irevsco live now on @rteplayer and @rte2 #rterugby https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/vG0SMt2Yin
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
Sexton was eventually given a second shot at the posts after a dangerous tackle from Scotland, which he struck well, putting Ireland back into the match.
No mistake this time from Sexton and Ireland now trail 3-6 #irevsco live now on @rteplayer and @rte2 #rterugby https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/7cnEFuPakZ
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
Peter O'Mahony: Powerful wing-forward#irevsco live now on @rteplayer and @rte2 #rterugby https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/WEEjzf0y78
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
Both sides traded penalties inside each others halves, with Duncan Taylor being shown yellow for Scotland for a deliberate knock down in a try-scoring opportunity .
It was not deemed to be a penalty try as the Scottish defence was there to cover the potential breakaway, keeping Ireland three points behind heading into the final ten minutes of the first half.
Ireland 6-9 Scotland
Sexton kicks penalty after this Duncan Taylor deliberate knock-on, which saw him binned#irevsco live now on @rteplayer and @rte2 #rterugby https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/8uBQiHXUUd— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
With a man up, and five minutes left in the first half, Ireland looked to solve their lineout issues and chase the first try of the game, after they turned down a kickable penalty in favour of a kick to touch.
Ireland were finally able to get in front just before half time after a chip kick for Robbie Henshaw ultimately ended up in the hands of Keith Earls over the try line.
Sexton missed the conversion, taking Ireland into halftime just two points ahead.
Brilliant work from Henshaw, Sexton, and Earls to get the try here 👏 #IREvSCO pic.twitter.com/RcKTZ7nfG8
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 5, 2020
THE MOMENT @KEITHEARLS87 moved into second on the list of all-time top @IrishRugby try scorers 👏@BrianODriscoll is the only man ahead of him now!#IREvSCO #AutumnNationsCup pic.twitter.com/H3RDJJ6DQe
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) December 5, 2020
Halftime at the Aviva
Ireland 🇮🇪 11-9 Scotland 🏴 @VodafoneIreland | #TeamOfUs | #COYBIG | #ShoulderToShoulder | #IREvSCO | #IRESCO— Off The Ball (@offtheball) December 5, 2020
Ireland threatened the Scottish line early in the first half, and were rewarded with a try through a powerful pick-and-go from Cian Healy
Sexton had no problem with the conversion, extending the lead just five minutes into the second half.
TRY IRELAND!
Cian Healy chucked over the line by Peter O'Mahony
Sexton converts
18-9
Live now on @rte2 and @rteplayer #rterugby #irevscohttps://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/dYvMlQtvbp— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
Ireland looked a much improved side in the second half, as they were able to capitalise on their field position and exploit the overlap.
Some quick hands from O'Mahony and Henshaw put Earls away in the corner for his second of the game.
TRY IRELAND!
It's that man Keith Earls again, finishing a fine Irish move in the corner
Sexton converts from touchline
25-9#irevsco live now on @rteplayer and @rte2 #rterugby https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/fyZfhWKhUI— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
Scotland got one back though, after Ireland seemed to have switched off for a few minutes. Duhan van der Merwe picked the ball up from the base of the ruck, running over a passive Rob Herring, before running outside Jacob Stockdale to score.
Van der Walt added the conversion, taking Scotland back within nine points with just under an hour played.
TRY SCOTLAND!
Van der Merwe catches Rob Herring napping and sprints for the line
Converted so score now 25-16
Live now on @rteplayer and @rte2 #rterugby #irevsco https://t.co/oYJYonvSkY pic.twitter.com/IYTZu4gTsD— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) December 5, 2020
I think VanDer Merwe could be starting 11 on the Lions #Wildcard #IrevSco
— Tommy Bowe (@TommyBowe) December 5, 2020
With Sexton off with seemingly a leg injury, Ross Byrne kept the scoreboard ticking over for Ireland with a couple of penalties in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Ireland were able to get regain control of possession in the final minute and kick the ball out to secure their final victory of 2020.
Full time in the Aviva
Ireland 🇮🇪 31-16 Scotland 🏴 @VodafoneIreland | #TeamOfUs | #COYBIG | #ShoulderToShoulder | #IREvSCO | #IRESCO— Off The Ball (@offtheball) December 5, 2020
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