It had been built up as a potential banana skin. Scotland had improved from previous years. Ireland needed to build on their strongest autumn series in recent memory.
It even brought Ronan O'Gara to hope that Ireland 'hammered' them after the home side were 'too mouthy'.
It wasn't a great start as the Scots crossed over after eight minutes. Stuart Hogg's try was too easy and Ireland were seven down in no time.
His and Scotland's second came after twenty minutes and was special. Ireland got one back through Keith Earls but were caught out by Alex Dunbar and found themselves 21-8 down.
But a Joe Schmidt side doesn't stop at that. They don't die. Iain Henderson got a try to bring us back within six. Paddy Jackson put us ahead by converting his own try. It looked like Ireland were going to complete a monster of a comeback. But they fell just short, giving away two terrible penalties in the last 10 minutes.
Twitter feted the return of the Six Nations but mourned Ireland's Grand Slam dreams.
Awesome game of rugby between @Scotlandteam and @IrishRugby, congrats to both teams but fair play Scotland for grinding it out. #RBS6Nations
— Stephen Ferris (@StephenFerris6) February 4, 2017
Balls. #scovire
— Niall Breslin (@nbrez) February 4, 2017
Stato now says only second time ever #Scotland win their opening match in 6Nations.. wonder what a ticket to Edinburgh costs!! #Hogmanay2 !
— Alastair Blair (@Alastair_Blair) February 4, 2017
An entirely predictable defeat that.... #IREvSCO
— GavinGrace (@GavinGrace) February 4, 2017
1st shock of 6n. What a game to start it. Scots win good for rugby
— Andy Howell (@andyhowellsport) February 4, 2017
Gameplan went OK. Scotland tired as they went, and the points came, but the defence killed us #IREvSCO
— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) February 4, 2017
We'll done Scotland - cojones in last qtr. Ireland narrow and error prone. Bench impact less and we finished very ragged (for once)
— Whiff of Cordite (@WhiffofCordite) February 4, 2017
Painspotting :( #IREvSCO
— 📻 Ed Smith 📻 (@EdTodayFM) February 4, 2017
Jonny Gray made TWENTY-EIGHT tackles today. That is incredible. Is it a #SixNations record @Stu_Farmer? #SCOvIRE
— Will Kelleher (@willgkelleher) February 4, 2017
