The boot of Johnny Sexton pulled out a win for Ireland at Murrayfield on Sunday. After building a 14 point lead, they required a late Sexton penalty to claim a 27-24 victory.
Here's how we rated the Ireland performances.
Hugo Keenan - 6.5
Another solid performance at fullback. Good under the high ball and mostly solid in defence. Though, he and James Lowe should have done better for Scotland's second try.
"It's James Lowe. He just sails past him."
"He misses that tackle, he's got to make it."
Scotland hit back once again!#SCOvIRE #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/MZ80gJDdMb— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2021
Keith Earls - 7.5
After a quiet start ,Earls burst into the game with two superb contributions late in the first half. His run chase for an average Garryowen led to Tadhg Beirne winning a turnover and penalty, which put Ireland ahead. After an excellent restart by Finn Russell, Earls won a penalty with Scotland in a dangerous position.
Made eight tackles.
Garry Ringrose - 6
His telegraphed kick after Ireland turned over the ball led to Scotland's first try. No doubt his teammates should have done better after but it started with Ringrose's poor kick.
Carried seven times for 47m and made four tackles.
Robbie Henshaw - 7.5
Scored Ireland's first try when he touched down after a Johnny Sexton crosskick caused chaos in the Scotland defence.
ROBBIE HENSHAW 🟢
Clever cross-field kick from Sexton and Henshaw latches onto the loose ball!#SCOvIRE #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/yFoOSS6C3K— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2021
Carried 11 times for 45m. Also made eight tackles.
James Lowe - 5
Saw far more of the ball out wide in the first half than he did in the opening three games. Had some more poor moments defensively for both Scotland tries. Really needed to nail the tackle for the Huw Jones try. The hope is he would make up in attack for any defensive shortcomings but that did not happen against Scotland.
Carried eight times for 62m and made four tackles.
Terrible from Ireland to allow Finn Russell in to score.#SCOvIRE #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/7T299Dfsuq
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2021
Johnny Sexton - 7.5
Nailed the winning kick in the 77th minute. Excellent from the tee throughout the game.
His crosskick led to Ireland's first try. There was an element of luck to it though. Two Scotland defenders should have dealt better with it. Too often, the kick is the first option Sexton takes when Ireland have an advantage close to the opposition line. Needs to vary it.
JOHNNY SEXTON! ☘️
Nerves of steel to win the game!#SCOvIRE #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/VbVqckpHaB— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2021
Jamison Gibson-Park - 6
Boxkicking was very poor thoughout the game. Rarely gave Ireland's players a chance to contest for possession.
Cian Healy - 6
Won a penalty at the scrum in the 17th minute. 14 minutes later, the roles were reversed when he was the one to pop up.
Carried four times for 14m and made four tackles.
Replaced by Dave Kilcoyne after 55 minutes.
Rob Herring - 6
As it has been throughout the tournament, his lineout throw have been pretty good. Just one was off target during his time on the pitch. Won a turnover early in the second half, though it was a penalty about which Scotland will feel agrieved.
Made eight tackles. Still not offering enough in open play.
Tadhg Furlong - 7
A very good performance in his second start of the tournament. Carried well, seven times for 30m and made nine tackles.
Tadhg Furlong side-stepping Finn Russell. 🕺
HOOK IT TO OUR VEINS!#SCOvIRE #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/PmJ1Q2rKwF— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2021
He did concede a penalty at the breakdown which led to Scotland's first score of the game.
Replaced by Andrew Porter after 55 minutes.
Iain Henderson - 8
Part of a lineout which made the Scots extremely nervous on their throw.
Carried seven times for 33m. His 21 tackles were the most of any Irish player.
James Ryan - 7.5
Stole two Scotland lineouts in the first half. At the front of the lineout, he was often a wall Scotland could not scale.
Carried six times for 22m and made nine tackles.
Tadhg Beirne - 8.5
Continued his excellent run of form in this tournament. Has to start every game when he's playing like this. A turnover five minutes in set the tone for how he'd play. Won another, and a penalty which Sexton scored to put Ireland ahead, late in the first half. Scored Ireland's second try early in the second half.
Did concede a penalty during a lineout lift in the first half. Ireland had been penalised twice for the same infringement against Italy. Ireland were lucky to see Finn Russell send the subsequent kick wide.
Carried six times for 29m and made six tackles.
Replaced by Jack Conan after 65 minutes.
Will Connors - 7.5
Made some thundering runs and tackles. Carried 10 times for 54m and made 14 tackles.
CJ Stander - 7.5
Carried more than any Ireland player (17 times) and made more metres than any Ireland player (83m). Also made 10 tackles.
Replacements:
Ronan Kelleher
Probably should have started judging by his 17 or so minutes on the pitch. Offered far more from play than Rob Herring.
Carried four times for 20m and made six tackles.
Dave Kilcoyne
Replaced Cian Healy after 55 minutes but didn't have his usual impact off the bench.
Andrew Porter
Replaced Tadhg Furlong after 55 minutes. Carried three times for 9m and made nine tackles.
Ryan Baird
Replaced James Ryan with nine minutes to play and was part of what turned out to be the matching winning moment.
Blocked down a Scotland clearing kick which resulted in Ireland winning a penalty with five minutes to play and the scores level. Johnny Sexton kicked the penalty to give Ireland the win.
Also made five tackles.
Jack Conan
Played 17 minutes after replacing Tadhg Beirne.
Conor Murray
Did not play.
Billy Burns
Did not play.
Jordan Larmour
Replaced James Lowe with 12 minutes to play. Probably should have come on earlier.
See Also: Ronan O'Gara Praises Irish TMO For 'Courageous' Decision On Itoje Try
