Scotland v Ireland

:00:00. > :00:17.By trains, boats and planes, they've come from all over Ireland, buoyed

:00:18. > :00:20.by the autumn victory over the All Blacks and thinking this could be

:00:21. > :00:24.the year of a Grand Slam showdown against England in six weeks' time.

:00:25. > :00:30.Before that, their coach is having to take each game as it comes.

:00:31. > :00:35.Scotland- Ireland is the curtain raiser, keen to go out to lay down

:00:36. > :00:40.the standard for the rest to follow? Yes, I guess we are always keen, I

:00:41. > :00:45.know Scotland will be as well and I hope it does set a bit of a standard

:00:46. > :00:49.for the way the games are played. I know that both teams are looking

:00:50. > :00:55.forward to being as positive as they can, but I know conditions are

:00:56. > :00:58.tricky but we will play with positive endeavour. You have claimed

:00:59. > :01:01.some significant scouts in the last six months, not least New Zealand.

:01:02. > :01:06.Does that raise expectations that you must play like that over time?

:01:07. > :01:11.That is our hope. We may have caught New Zealand on a bit of an off day

:01:12. > :01:14.and if we Catchpole and on a really good day I don't think there is that

:01:15. > :01:20.much difference between the top eight teams. The margins are so

:01:21. > :01:24.small. We know they are going to be good today and for us Sarr

:01:25. > :01:34.expectation is that it's going to be an incredibly tough game and we have

:01:35. > :01:41.to be really on our mettle to win it. Will there be more pressure on

:01:42. > :01:47.Murray at scrum-half without Sexton? He has been really good and he is

:01:48. > :01:50.motivated for today like all of the players. We have confidence in Paddy

:01:51. > :01:57.Jackson and we have other guys who can kick the ball. Hopefully we can

:01:58. > :02:03.cover the bases with a fair bit of support for him and for Paddy. Paddy

:02:04. > :02:08.has started five of the last seven Test matches for us. Good luck

:02:09. > :02:12.today. Thanks. As we have mentioned a couple of times there will be a

:02:13. > :02:17.recurring subplot throughout the Six Nations about who might be going on

:02:18. > :02:20.the last tour in the summer. Sonia asked Joe Schmidt about Conor

:02:21. > :02:28.Murray. Amongst the list of people who are honours -- as good as on the

:02:29. > :02:37.plane it has to be Conor Murray. Hello, how are you doing? Great to

:02:38. > :02:42.see you. I'm good, thanks. Get out! Do you fill that rugby never stops,

:02:43. > :02:46.it's always the next big thing? Can you enjoy it? It's something I've

:02:47. > :02:49.consciously worked on in my mind to kind of correct, or try and enjoy

:02:50. > :02:54.things a little bit more because you see some players that I just

:02:55. > :02:58.shadowed by the pressure, or whatever. I just want to make sure I

:02:59. > :03:04.enjoyed it because hopefully on Saturday you run out on Murrayfield

:03:05. > :03:09.to a packed stadium. To not enjoy that is such a shame. Did you go a

:03:10. > :03:11.bit wild after Chicago? We had a few Guinness, which was great. Special

:03:12. > :03:29.day, special, special day. The week felt a bit weird from

:03:30. > :03:32.coming from Munster and Axel passing and to go straight into another camp

:03:33. > :03:36.and have that in your head was a bit weird but from the beginning of the

:03:37. > :03:40.game, the national anthems and the Haka and the emotion that built up

:03:41. > :03:43.in that game you realise when standing in the figure of eight you

:03:44. > :03:50.are hearing the crowd recognise what it was, there was a bit of a raw and

:03:51. > :03:58.it felt like a really powerful thing to do. The image was spine tingling.

:03:59. > :04:03.-- roar. To put in a performance like that was the best sporting

:04:04. > :04:08.moment of my life. Sometimes you try and be a bit humble about it. But

:04:09. > :04:12.that was my best performance in a green shirt. Nobody ever wants to

:04:13. > :04:15.say I'm great, and the best in the world, unless you are Muhammad Ali

:04:16. > :04:20.or someone like that but you are named in that fashion now. How do

:04:21. > :04:24.you deal with that? Axel used to say you are never as good as they say

:04:25. > :04:27.you are or as bad as they say you are so you have to find somewhere in

:04:28. > :04:31.the middle. To be mentioned like that is great, it means the hard

:04:32. > :04:34.work is being seen by people on the outside which is great. Maybe when

:04:35. > :04:38.I'm finished you can really look back and say that was a great day,

:04:39. > :04:43.that was a good few months of my career, I was in good form. But

:04:44. > :04:47.right now it is weak in and week out and trying to stay at the level. The

:04:48. > :04:52.perception I've always had a view is you are a reluctant leader, is that

:04:53. > :04:55.fair? Your personality comes out, at school my teacher said to me if you

:04:56. > :04:59.want to play scrum-half or in that area you will have to speak up and

:05:00. > :05:03.it's something I've definitely had to focus on and try and get better

:05:04. > :05:09.at, but at the same time don't try and change yourself. If you really

:05:10. > :05:14.force it... I am who I am for a reason.

:05:15. > :05:18.There he is, a very level-headed guy, but absolutely key pivot to the

:05:19. > :05:23.Irish team. He is, he is very comfortable and leads by his actions

:05:24. > :05:26.on the field. I don't think he is a particular shouter or talks too

:05:27. > :05:33.much, he's very structured in what he does but he has a great engine.

:05:34. > :05:37.He is still going at 78, 79, 80 minutes, you will find, doing the

:05:38. > :05:40.right thing at the right time. But his defence as well is incredibly

:05:41. > :05:43.keen for the Manning which Ireland plate. He is one half of the

:05:44. > :05:46.half-backs partnership that would normally be Johnny Sexton but Paddy

:05:47. > :05:51.Jackson is the man who fills that birth today because Sexton is

:05:52. > :05:56.injured. Is that a key, do you think, potentially match defining

:05:57. > :05:59.injury? To those who don't know the game particularly well it could

:06:00. > :06:02.become a Johnny Sexton is an outstanding player. And a well-known

:06:03. > :06:07.player, as is Paddy Jackson. Paddy Jackson has played a lot for Ireland

:06:08. > :06:11.through the summer against South Africa, started against Australia,

:06:12. > :06:16.came on after 25 minutes against New Zealand and carried the same form

:06:17. > :06:23.that Johnny Sexton has. He is a tremendous player. He kicks 87% as

:06:24. > :06:26.well. He plays an awful lot of the last few games for Ireland,

:06:27. > :06:29.everybody looks at Johnny Sexton, the big name up in lights and

:06:30. > :06:33.thinking he is missing and there will be a big hole but this guy is a

:06:34. > :06:38.more natural ten than Johnny Sexton. He isn't as good as Johnny Sexton

:06:39. > :06:41.but the team play a little bit freer when he plays. When you say he is

:06:42. > :06:46.not as good as Johnny Sexton I would say he's not as experienced, I think

:06:47. > :06:50.the talent in his ability to run and sidestep and see the gaps, I think

:06:51. > :06:54.it is a good thing for Ireland that Scotland will know more about Sexton

:06:55. > :07:01.and less about Jackson in this scenario. Five seconds, here is

:07:02. > :07:04.Garry Ringrose. He's the first Garry Ringrose. From a Scottish

:07:05. > :07:09.perspective, the one statistic they look at that cast a huge dark cloud

:07:10. > :07:14.over them is the fact that only once in their history in the whole of the

:07:15. > :07:17.Six Nations have a won their opening match of the tournament. These days

:07:18. > :07:20.this is a different Scotland who have strength in depth, confidence

:07:21. > :07:26.and they are ready to get departing coach Vern Cotter off on a good

:07:27. > :07:31.sendoff. Vern is it strange going into the

:07:32. > :07:37.Six Nations championship knowing it is your last one? I haven't given it

:07:38. > :07:41.much thought, the last game it will sink in but I am firmly focused on

:07:42. > :07:45.this game. It is a big game to start with. The whole thing has been about

:07:46. > :07:49.preparing well for this. There is a real sense of optimism

:07:50. > :07:53.around Scottish Rugby. Do you think you can convert that into the first

:07:54. > :07:58.win on the opening day for many a year? That's the intention, to go

:07:59. > :08:02.out there and win the game. We are playing a very good team and a lot

:08:03. > :08:06.of things have been said, everybody would like to see us do this, most

:08:07. > :08:10.of all us, but we know we are playing a good team and we will have

:08:11. > :08:14.to be at the top of our game. Stuart Hogg is hotly tipped to make the

:08:15. > :08:20.Lions team this summer. What is he likely to bring to Scotland today?

:08:21. > :08:24.We know what he can do, he brings the ball up fairly quick on

:08:25. > :08:27.counterattack situations, the long kicking game, which will be

:08:28. > :08:30.important, because the ball is slippery. The rain should stop but

:08:31. > :08:34.it has been raining this morning so our tactics have changed. Today has

:08:35. > :08:38.not been what it has been like all week so there have been a few tweaks

:08:39. > :08:45.done. The guys are really up for it and hopefully they will put in a

:08:46. > :08:47.good performance. Good luck. Thank you.

:08:48. > :08:50.It is quite a pleasant afternoon and the rain has stopped, it will be

:08:51. > :08:54.greasy on the pitch but it is not as cold as we were expecting. Andy

:08:55. > :08:58.Nicholls will be part of the commentary team, welcome to another

:08:59. > :09:04.Six Nations. Vern Cotter's last Six Nations. He gave an interesting

:09:05. > :09:08.interview a of weeks ago. Doesn't have any bearing on the way Scotland

:09:09. > :09:11.will play today going forward? I don't think it does. It is a strange

:09:12. > :09:16.set of circumstances because normally a coach has left when he is

:09:17. > :09:20.not been doing well. Over the last 18 months the players have really

:09:21. > :09:23.been buying into what Vern Cotter is trying to get across and there is a

:09:24. > :09:27.real alignment and these players love playing for Vern Cotter so I

:09:28. > :09:31.think they will be even more motivated in the next five games to

:09:32. > :09:36.send him off on a high. We talked about Conor Murray, the number nine

:09:37. > :09:40.for Ireland, but what about Greig Laidlaw as captain and the performer

:09:41. > :09:45.and pivot of this Scottish team. One of his most important traits for the

:09:46. > :09:48.team is his leadership. It is a fairly inexperienced side but he

:09:49. > :09:51.brings that real sense of leadership, and also he is the

:09:52. > :09:57.points scorer with his goal-kicking. He is so important. Alec Price is on

:09:58. > :10:00.the bench and playing well for Glasgow but I think you will see

:10:01. > :10:03.Greig Laidlaw play most of the match because I think it will be tight and

:10:04. > :10:07.his goal-kicking could be what Scotland need at the end. If they

:10:08. > :10:12.need to come back after a few points down then Ali Price gives a

:10:13. > :10:16.different option off the bench. Vern Cotter has really leaned on Greig

:10:17. > :10:19.Laidlaw on his tenure here and he is his go to man and he is important

:10:20. > :10:22.for Scotland. If Scotland are looking for somebody

:10:23. > :10:26.with the panache and flair, if you like, to ignite the game in the

:10:27. > :10:30.closing stages that is obviously the man, Stuart Hogg with dazzling

:10:31. > :10:34.footwork and electric pace. Again, going back to the subject of the

:10:35. > :10:38.Lions, you would think he has a very good chance of being a starting

:10:39. > :10:41.full-back, or maybe perhaps even on the wing for the Lions in the

:10:42. > :10:46.summer. Scottish players have been involved in the starting line-up for

:10:47. > :10:50.Lions teams in recent Taurus, few and far between. The halcyon days of

:10:51. > :10:56.Gavin Hastings, Tom Smith was very important in South Africa in 1997,

:10:57. > :10:59.Tom Smith on his own in 2001 but the last three Lions tours there has not

:11:00. > :11:03.been a single Scottish player who has been an automatic starting

:11:04. > :11:11.player for any of the subsequent Lions coaches. You would think

:11:12. > :11:14.Stuart Hogg is going to be very much in the mix for that and he and Lee

:11:15. > :11:19.McKenzie went for a walk around the outside pitches here at Murrayfield.

:11:20. > :11:27.# Can we bring yesterday around # Because I know how I feel about

:11:28. > :11:31.you now stop # Steward, you are only 24 but it

:11:32. > :11:38.feels you have been around for ages, are you an old head on young

:11:39. > :11:42.shoulders. I look old! I tend to hang around

:11:43. > :11:47.with older guys in the squad, Greig Laidlaw, Ross Ford, I like to pick

:11:48. > :11:51.the bones from them and listen to their chat. I am fairly experienced

:11:52. > :11:55.and if I can help out in any way, shape or form that is what I'm here

:11:56. > :11:59.to do. Does being a father helped with the sense of responsibility?

:12:00. > :12:05.Yes, obviously I have the wee boy, Archie, 14 months now, and another

:12:06. > :12:09.kid in a few weeks' time. I think I had to mature fairly quick. I love

:12:10. > :12:13.seeing the camaraderie between you and the boys, not just on the pitch

:12:14. > :12:16.but also on social media. You seem to all get on very well with each

:12:17. > :12:20.other. Yes, I think that is shown on social

:12:21. > :12:22.media. Sometimes we don't get on with each other.

:12:23. > :12:27.Oh! LAUGHTER

:12:28. > :12:36.EXPLETIVE Bartlett scared me during the week. For me it is challenge

:12:37. > :12:39.accented and it is my turn. You probably don't want to talk

:12:40. > :12:43.about this but I'm going to ask about the Lions. How much does it

:12:44. > :12:47.mean to get that jersey again? It is first and foremost getting in

:12:48. > :12:51.a Scotland 15 jersey and expressing myself and having some fun. If I'm

:12:52. > :12:53.good enough to be there than perfect.

:12:54. > :12:57.In terms of Glasgow and Edinburgh, their performances have been pretty

:12:58. > :13:02.strong throughout the last few months. Does that help create a real

:13:03. > :13:06.sense of optimism? Certainly, I think there was a stat

:13:07. > :13:10.come out the other day, 33 out of the 37 boys involved in the final

:13:11. > :13:14.stages of Europe, so everybody has been playing well and been

:13:15. > :13:20.performing. It is a tricky time for the coaches to select the 23. Where

:13:21. > :13:23.do you think Scotland has improved? What have you guys been working on

:13:24. > :13:27.since the autumn internationals? I think for us everything starts up

:13:28. > :13:32.front. If we get our set pieces, scrum and line-out right and get

:13:33. > :13:36.good go forward off the back of that we can release the ball to our

:13:37. > :13:39.backs. We have a good old back line these days and if we get the boys

:13:40. > :13:43.the space the damage is going to happen. As I say everything starts

:13:44. > :13:46.up front, everybody has a job to do and if everybody does that we are in

:13:47. > :13:54.a good place. # I feel about you now #

:13:55. > :14:05.Fantastic aerial shot of Murrayfield on the opening of RBS Six Nations

:14:06. > :14:09.2017. Nobody better to talk about him than a man who played over 100

:14:10. > :14:12.times for his country. What brings the extra pizzazz to the number 15

:14:13. > :14:17.jersey? A lot of it is his confidence and attitude to play but

:14:18. > :14:21.he's very skilful. This is the counterattack last year against

:14:22. > :14:24.Ireland, he scans for the two front row forwards and then his pace and

:14:25. > :14:30.ability to execute it and finish from long range is electric, and

:14:31. > :14:33.also he has four of his Glasgow Warriors team-mates alongside him

:14:34. > :14:38.this afternoon working really well together. The big thing for me for

:14:39. > :14:41.Stuart Hogg over the last two years is his majority. He's only 24 but

:14:42. > :14:46.you think back to the red card in Wales, he's a completely different

:14:47. > :14:50.person. A couple of years younger than him is Huw Jones in the centre.

:14:51. > :14:58.As a centre yourself how impressed were you by the way he surged onto

:14:59. > :15:04.the in Sam Rush not seem -- the way he surged onto the international

:15:05. > :15:07.scene. He is elusive. With such inexperience, to come into these

:15:08. > :15:12.situations and play as if he's been there such a long time is

:15:13. > :15:17.impressive. It is good to see him taking hold and really having a go.

:15:18. > :15:21.The youngsters, the inexperience, you don't get sucked in by the

:15:22. > :15:24.occasion. You really want to get the ball and show why you've been

:15:25. > :15:29.selected and he has done that. In the autumn he had a chance and took

:15:30. > :15:33.the chance and he wasn't fazed by everything going on. He also seemed

:15:34. > :15:38.unfazed by the fact Scotland hadn't been playing well. This is a new

:15:39. > :15:41.team, new players, he is confident in his ability. His big point of

:15:42. > :15:48.difference is his speed, he is electric and quick with his running.

:15:49. > :15:52.He has not played since the Argentina team when he had a foot

:15:53. > :15:56.injury. He has not played but no doubt he will come out and played

:15:57. > :15:59.impeccably and fast for Scotland. CHEERING

:16:00. > :16:02.You can hear the huge ovation for the teams of Scotland and Ireland as

:16:03. > :16:07.they take to the field at Murrayfield for the opening game of

:16:08. > :16:11.the RBS Six Nations championship. Tomasz Schafernaker, or whoever it

:16:12. > :16:16.was on the BBC weather forecast last night, they were expecting to run

:16:17. > :16:21.out into torrential rain but it is winter sunshine and it is a glorious

:16:22. > :16:26.afternoon. For watching and more importantly for playing. We might

:16:27. > :16:30.have had a stodgy start for the Six Nations but no excuse this afternoon

:16:31. > :16:33.for having a really good compelling contest between these sides. If you

:16:34. > :16:37.are looking you watch and thinking they don't kick off until 2:30pm and

:16:38. > :16:41.it is a bit early, they are out early because both sides will be

:16:42. > :16:46.presented to the patron of the Scottish Rugby union, that Princess

:16:47. > :16:50.Royal am a regular attendee at Murrayfield and has been for many

:16:51. > :16:54.years. If we are just talking in general terms about the

:16:55. > :16:59.championship, I know you can use facts and figures to prove anything

:17:00. > :17:03.who want. But almost all of the Six Nations Championships barring a

:17:04. > :17:08.couple have been won by the team that has conceded the fewest tries.

:17:09. > :17:12.Is that the base from which you start? You don't concede tries

:17:13. > :17:16.therefore you win matches? You do and that's one of the difficulties,

:17:17. > :17:20.don't concede tries is almost a negative, and you are trying to play

:17:21. > :17:24.positive from the start. You can lose the championship very early on

:17:25. > :17:28.by not having your concentration right, by not having the structures

:17:29. > :17:32.in the right place. One of the glorious things of this tournament

:17:33. > :17:38.is the atmosphere, the hype, but it also is the sense of ambition you

:17:39. > :17:42.need to have, you need to get off to a good winning start. If you look at

:17:43. > :17:47.all the stats you have to win on the first weekend to go on to win the

:17:48. > :17:52.trophy. Does that drive people by and large down a pragmatic route on

:17:53. > :17:56.the first day? I suppose it does in many ways. Those who have the

:17:57. > :17:59.courage to rise above that and do what is the right thing to do in

:18:00. > :18:03.that situation will come out on top. You are right that championship

:18:04. > :18:07.teams, successful teams are built on good defence, that must be the

:18:08. > :18:09.bedrock of what you do, but making the right decision at the right

:18:10. > :18:13.time, being more evasive and given the extra paths if it is on is the

:18:14. > :18:17.courage you need, courage is often viewed upon as who can hit hardest,

:18:18. > :18:24.or who can get up after being hit but courage in decision making and

:18:25. > :18:26.taking a risk can lead to good attacking powers. The game has

:18:27. > :18:31.expanded from defence, if you think teams are looking to score 25-35

:18:32. > :18:36.points, you've got to score tries, so the emphasis is on attack, how

:18:37. > :18:40.can you create that space? How can you get those good players, the game

:18:41. > :18:43.breakers, into it? If you watched Ireland against New Zealand in

:18:44. > :18:50.Chicago, the intelligence with which they played, the way they spread the

:18:51. > :18:56.ball, they spread New Zealand and looked for the gaps, they are such a

:18:57. > :19:00.smart team scored 40 points against the All Blacks, you've got to score

:19:01. > :19:04.to win, don't you? Absolutely, there has been a change over the last two

:19:05. > :19:07.or three years as the game has moved. From the northern hemisphere

:19:08. > :19:11.teams in the World Cup it was a little bit too early for them. Since

:19:12. > :19:19.then there is more ambition, the greater sense of urgency of racking

:19:20. > :19:23.up points. The often levelled is that it is too robotic and

:19:24. > :19:26.repetitive but it was interesting hearing Eddie Jones with Sonia in

:19:27. > :19:29.Portugal saying he thinks the game is more chaotic than it's ever been

:19:30. > :19:36.before. Would you go along with that? I guess he is saying it from a

:19:37. > :19:40.structural point of view, look how many moves you've got to think that

:19:41. > :19:43.as a player. The coaches are imparting that knowledge to the

:19:44. > :19:49.players, talking about three or four set plays and we just used to have

:19:50. > :19:55.one. It is chaotic but the best teams play in a simplified way. It

:19:56. > :20:02.is the phases and amount of phases. Three, four, five phases. But you

:20:03. > :20:07.get 17, 18, 19 phases and still expect the teams to defend and

:20:08. > :20:10.attack and play accordingly. That is the change and that is where the

:20:11. > :20:13.chaotic nature comes from. The analysis is so good these days

:20:14. > :20:16.everybody knows what is coming so you need the chaos to bring

:20:17. > :20:20.something new to the party and I think we will see that from two

:20:21. > :20:23.innovative coaches on the opening weekend of the Six Nations and I'm

:20:24. > :20:26.sure we will see something we haven't seen before the catch is

:20:27. > :20:32.somebody out. Long conversations going on here. And a bit of hilarity

:20:33. > :20:35.as well. It is all very relaxed. I thought Vern Cotter was more relaxed

:20:36. > :20:42.in his pre-match interview as well so maybe it is rubbing off on the

:20:43. > :20:48.players. Greig Laidlaw can often be quite cranky, he is a grumpy nine.

:20:49. > :20:55.Who will win? It will be Ireland on form. Scotland are on the up but

:20:56. > :21:01.they have such a confidence hurdle to get over. Tight, tight, tight,

:21:02. > :21:06.Ireland by three or four points. Tight, tight, tight whatever. This

:21:07. > :21:10.competition is officially declared the best attended sporting event in

:21:11. > :21:13.the world. Here we go with the anthems for the first match in this

:21:14. > :21:48.year's RBS Six Nations. # Come the day and come the hour

:21:49. > :21:51.Come the power and the glory # We have come to answer

:21:52. > :21:53.Our country's call # From the four proud

:21:54. > :21:55.provinces of Ireland # Ireland, Ireland

:21:56. > :21:57.Together standing tall # Shoulder to shoulder We'll

:21:58. > :22:00.answer Ireland's call # Ireland, Ireland

:22:01. > :22:12.Together standing tall # Shoulder to shoulder We'll

:22:13. > :24:02.The 18th Six Nations championship begins at Murrayfield with

:24:03. > :24:07.commentary from Paul O'Connell, Andy Nicol and Andrew Cotter.

:24:08. > :24:12.Scotland's eternal son of hope and genuine belief and optimism for the

:24:13. > :24:18.home side tempered by a couple of absentee is, in the front row, much

:24:19. > :24:22.is made of the talent of Zander Fagerson who has just turned 21,

:24:23. > :24:25.Brown gets the nod ahead of Ross Ford with Allan Dell winning his

:24:26. > :24:29.fourth cap, each member of the front row start of the Six Nations game

:24:30. > :24:32.for the first time. In the back row Josh Strauss, big ball-carrier,

:24:33. > :24:39.number eight, back line bringing Dummett brimming with talent. Huw

:24:40. > :24:42.Jones has not played since a foot injury against Argentina but will be

:24:43. > :24:49.a marked man after an outstanding display in November. As for Ireland

:24:50. > :24:55.at tight head Tadhg Furlong, so impressive, Anderson and Devin Toner

:24:56. > :24:59.will relish their appearances. CJ Stander on the blindside is a real

:25:00. > :25:02.threat and a very strong back row. Behind the scrum, no sexton at

:25:03. > :25:07.fly-half but Paddy Jackson is almost a regular test starter of late. In

:25:08. > :25:10.the centre great thing is expected of Garry Ringrose, the younger and

:25:11. > :25:15.less experienced of the Leinster partnership with Robbie Henshaw. A

:25:16. > :25:20.high-class back three, all very comfortable under high ball as well,

:25:21. > :25:23.looking for those today under the swirling breeze. The replacements

:25:24. > :25:27.show some depth available to both sides in some positions, but

:25:28. > :25:37.Scotland looked thinner in the front row cover where they should be a

:25:38. > :25:40.first cap for Berghan. Scotland gathering in a huddle as the

:25:41. > :25:45.countdown continues to the start of the Six Nations. The referee for

:25:46. > :25:50.this one is Romain Poite. A full deck of cards, no doubt, in his

:25:51. > :25:53.pocket. We will look for the new laws and interpretations but we hope

:25:54. > :25:58.for an entertaining game. Conditions are fine now. That tackle laws, the

:25:59. > :26:03.bonus points, the players from all corners of the globe, but the

:26:04. > :26:12.excitement of the Six Nations remains a constant. And what a game

:26:13. > :26:18.to get as underway at Murrayfield. Romain Poite says to Finn Russell,

:26:19. > :26:27."I'm ready." We are underway in the 2017 RBS Six

:26:28. > :26:37.Nations. Finds Zebo initially. He bounces straight into Allan Dell.

:26:38. > :26:43.Scotland with fierce early tackles trying to peg Ireland back and back

:26:44. > :26:47.it goes to Carney. Down on the pitch before kick-off I noticed it was a

:26:48. > :26:51.southerly wind -- Kearney. Scotland will have the slight breeze

:26:52. > :26:55.advantage in the first half. It does swirl around here, no doubt. That

:26:56. > :27:00.was a good physical start in defence by Scotland. They will be pleased to

:27:01. > :27:03.get the first big hit put in. Ireland might have gone through a

:27:04. > :27:07.few more phases but they were on the back foot and Scotland have a good

:27:08. > :27:11.attacking line-out. Brown goes to the front and two Richie Gray

:27:12. > :27:15.waiting there. The little knock-on there. The first scrum of the match

:27:16. > :27:21.and it is Irish ball and Paul O'Connell is looking forward to

:27:22. > :27:25.seeing how the scrums go today. The perceived wisdom is Ireland have the

:27:26. > :27:28.upper hand. Yes, I suppose it's a big challenge for Zander Fagerson,

:27:29. > :27:33.so young, tightheads normally develop later so this is a big day

:27:34. > :27:37.for him. The young guy on the other side in Tadhg Furlong for Ireland.

:27:38. > :27:43.It will be an interesting battle. Ireland have the weighted advantage.

:27:44. > :27:48.Always tells a little story. A good view from the spider cam overhead.

:27:49. > :28:02.The front rows come together for the first time. Marie Waits and feeds.

:28:03. > :28:08.-- Murray waits. Nothing going on yet. Ireland looking for the first

:28:09. > :28:11.penalty, a big marker laid down. Massive moment. Normally hear you

:28:12. > :28:16.are trying to exit from your own half of the pitch. You going to

:28:17. > :28:20.Whitfield and kick it long, if you get a penalty is the best way, get

:28:21. > :28:24.the ball back again 40 metres down the field. The contrast between the

:28:25. > :28:28.sides, the ball went in and Ireland were happy the scrum to take long as

:28:29. > :28:31.possible. Scotland will want to see the converse, get the ball in and

:28:32. > :28:35.out and Fraser Brown to put it and get the ball away as quickly as

:28:36. > :28:38.possible because you saw the advantage Ireland have. Daily are

:28:39. > :28:44.the Irish ball, Irish line-out, the first chance for Ireland to attack.

:28:45. > :28:56.If their captain Rory Best can find his target. Which he does. The ball

:28:57. > :29:06.is back for Murray. Fed back now for Sean O'Brien. Big hits coming in.

:29:07. > :29:13.Ireland, can they lift the pace. Heaslip with an early carry? Quick

:29:14. > :29:19.ball for Ireland again, battling their way through CJ Stander, so

:29:20. > :29:25.impressive in the autumn. Back it comes to Heaslip once more. And into

:29:26. > :29:29.Fagerson and Richie Gray, but Ireland still with the ball and

:29:30. > :29:35.attacking and hanging onto it now as Henshaw lays it back, a little bit

:29:36. > :29:38.untidily, eventually. The turnover. Laidlaw can fire their Scottish

:29:39. > :29:43.backline and wide it goes to Huw Jones. Jones may have looked to pass

:29:44. > :29:48.in front to Maitland but Maitland galloping onto it and Scotland have

:29:49. > :29:58.a chance. Russell onto Fagerson and beyond it goes. And now Scotland

:29:59. > :30:01.have meant out wide but the little knock-on and off Huw Jones just

:30:02. > :30:07.about where the scrum was first they will do it again. Scotland had the

:30:08. > :30:10.numbers, just needed to put it through the hands, they didn't need

:30:11. > :30:14.to do much else, that is a shame because turnover ball is what you

:30:15. > :30:18.are after. This is the bit where they got the turnover, Fraser Brown,

:30:19. > :30:22.Dunbar, in there, the ball all over the place, Scotland get the

:30:23. > :30:26.turnover, the pass out wide, just what they needed. This is when it

:30:27. > :30:30.came down, too hard from Finn Russell. That really was an

:30:31. > :30:35.opportunity for Scotland. You can see the frustration.

:30:36. > :30:44.We talked about how electric Huw Jones was in November. His parents,

:30:45. > :30:49.his father was teaching at John Watson' College, that is why he was

:30:50. > :30:53.born in Scotland. English parents, unknown to Fraser Brown. That he was

:30:54. > :30:59.called, in rugby terms, in South Africa, Huw Jones. Fraser Brown

:31:00. > :31:03.might be getting a blood reversal. Again, we mentioned that he hasn't

:31:04. > :31:07.played since that game against Argentina in November. No matter how

:31:08. > :31:11.fit you are, there is match fitness as well. And sharpness. He was

:31:12. > :31:15.involved in the preseason at the Stormers but it is very different to

:31:16. > :31:23.training hard and training under pressure to training in a

:31:24. > :31:25.full-blooded Test match. This will be an early appearance for Ross Ford

:31:26. > :31:28.as Fraser Brown goes for blood reversal. Cap number 103. Initially.

:31:29. > :31:34.But I am sure we will see you later on. A decent chunk of a man to be

:31:35. > :31:38.waiting in the wings. They will have debated long and hard whether he

:31:39. > :31:41.starts because of his scrummaging. Fraser Brown was outstanding for

:31:42. > :31:45.Glasgow couple of weeks ago for Leicester. Ross Ford will probably

:31:46. > :31:51.improve the scrum for the time he is on the pitch. The instant litmus

:31:52. > :31:55.test is this one. Almost exactly the same position as the previous one. I

:31:56. > :31:58.learned just waited and waited and then the surge came on.

:31:59. > :32:04.Dell just popped out an island status trade. Look at him on the

:32:05. > :32:08.side nearest us, hopefully he can stay straight. And lay off the

:32:09. > :32:29.scrum. The same result. Penalty coming,

:32:30. > :32:35.surely, for Ireland. There it is. DRS scrums and two to destructions

:32:36. > :32:41.of the Scottish pack. You can see the way he comes on, Del's hips

:32:42. > :32:42.popped out to the left. Ireland goes straight through. It could be a long

:32:43. > :32:48.day if it continues like this. Paid attention but clearly under

:32:49. > :32:57.pressure. Not just a very strong in the scrum

:32:58. > :33:00.but very impressive in the loose as well. From on high, we get a great

:33:01. > :33:06.view of it. You can just see Dell popped out as the pressure comes

:33:07. > :33:10.out. He needs a bit of help from his/her close, his second rowers.

:33:11. > :33:19.This line-out is scrappy. -- from his hookers. From Ireland's

:33:20. > :33:24.wastefulness. Watson takes it. A live wire. A bit around the collar.

:33:25. > :33:27.But Scotland are still with it. Again, a chance to attack.

:33:28. > :33:40.Shovelling it onto Maitland. Jonny Gray. Scotland back up to the

:33:41. > :33:45.ten metre line. The game is going through the same patterns. Richie

:33:46. > :33:46.Gray, this time. Allan trying to hold them up. Russell thinks he sees

:33:47. > :33:54.a bit of space. Keith earls has a bit of time to

:33:55. > :33:58.slice it massively off the outside of his boot. You can see the attempt

:33:59. > :34:05.for Scotland, wanting it to go wide. Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland full of

:34:06. > :34:09.confidence at the moment and then the power comes in. The Rae

:34:10. > :34:14.Brothers, the main ball carriers for Scotland. When you are captain of a

:34:15. > :34:20.site where the scrum is struggling, is there a way you can actually try

:34:21. > :34:30.and avoid scrums in a game of rugby? -- the Gray Brothers. You have to

:34:31. > :34:36.man up. We have some rain early on. The board is greasy. There will be a

:34:37. > :34:37.lot of scrums. Wilson took it. Looking for the inside man, Sean

:34:38. > :34:47.Maitland. Again, Scotland, through Jonny Gray.

:34:48. > :34:56.Rossall looking for width. Huw Jones hanging that -- Russell. Hogg is

:34:57. > :35:01.there. CMOS battling his way down the wing. Scotland to within seven

:35:02. > :35:03.metres of the line. -- Seymour battling his way. They are

:35:04. > :35:09.struggling but move forward with a vengeance. Richie Gray. The noise

:35:10. > :35:16.grows inside Murrayfield. Hamish Watson still going up to within two

:35:17. > :35:20.metres of the line. Scotland bearing down on the try line.

:35:21. > :35:32.It slows for a moment. Laidlaw thinks but picked up by the forwards

:35:33. > :35:36.and driven. The Irish defence being sorely tested. Richie Gray is there

:35:37. > :35:47.again. But still just short. Urged on by the Murrayfield

:35:48. > :35:51.faithful. Gives it wide. Hogg has it! For the line and the score!

:35:52. > :35:59.Scotland welcome a try, scoring at Murrayfield. It was a team try to

:36:00. > :36:04.bring the crowds to life. That really was 18 try. Good composure,

:36:05. > :36:10.good patients. At various stages I thought they went wide. They didn't

:36:11. > :36:14.panic. -- good patience. Sometimes it can go for the attacking team and

:36:15. > :36:27.this was at the very end. Good, long past. It goes to ground. A great try

:36:28. > :36:31.by Scotland. So nearly an interception. It was the best pass.

:36:32. > :36:40.It really puts defences under pressure. Real patience from

:36:41. > :36:43.Scotland. Often you see teams panicking when they are that close

:36:44. > :36:50.to the line, forcing passes but they were very careful in what they did.

:36:51. > :36:53.They converted a try really well. Stuart Hogg now Scotland's all-time

:36:54. > :36:57.leading try scorer in the Six Nations. It gives great Laidlaw this

:36:58. > :37:03.conversion -- Greig Laidlaw. It's a difficult day for the

:37:04. > :37:15.kickers. A converted try. Scotland 7-0 to the

:37:16. > :37:19.good. I wonder how am that dominance in the set piece... A loose line-out

:37:20. > :37:24.which eventually brought a bout that try. That is the challenge for

:37:25. > :37:27.Scotland. They've got to try to play error-free rugby. The more mistakes

:37:28. > :37:32.there are, the more scrums they are, the more dominant island will be.

:37:33. > :37:42.We've seen what Scotland can do. -- more dominant Ireland. Restart taken

:37:43. > :37:43.by Ireland. A huge thump on Zebo. Ireland with an instant chance to

:37:44. > :37:54.respond. Furlong. Again, the Scottish tackles are

:37:55. > :38:00.thick and fast. Fagerson hitting best.

:38:01. > :38:04.Every green shirt has a target on it at the moment.

:38:05. > :38:18.Carried in by O'Brien. It is still there for Ireland. Heaslip. Furlong,

:38:19. > :38:23.again, to Jackson. A loose one. Scotland just waited in defence.

:38:24. > :38:28.Zebo. Fraser Brown back on the pitch. Good strength. He makes his

:38:29. > :38:36.way past Dunbar to the edge of the 22. Some thumping challenges coming

:38:37. > :38:44.in. Allan Dell was there. Murray fires it out. Paddy Jackson.

:38:45. > :38:48.O'Brien! O'Brien is through on his own. He bounces through one tackle

:38:49. > :38:53.and now Ireland menacing the Scottish try line. WHISTLE

:38:54. > :39:00.Turnover. But advantage being played and then another penalty. Ryan

:39:01. > :39:04.Wilson believes his case. A decision to make. In the autumn, Ireland

:39:05. > :39:11.indisposition almost always went to the corner. -- in this position.

:39:12. > :39:15.There it is again, no hesitation. It will be a five metre line-out. One

:39:16. > :39:19.area Scotland were concerned about in November and Ireland were very

:39:20. > :39:20.strong hand, the driving maul off the five metre line-out. We shall

:39:21. > :39:29.see how this goes. Ryan Wilson thought he did it fairly

:39:30. > :39:36.but not. A real opportunity for Ireland. Best goes long. Just

:39:37. > :39:40.watching. Stander takes it. Trying to get towards the line. Down it

:39:41. > :39:42.goes. Advantage. Scotland can only bring it down a legally. Ireland

:39:43. > :39:57.with a penalty. Scotland will have to be very

:39:58. > :40:04.careful. As a captain, when you go dominant maul, dominant scrum, would

:40:05. > :40:06.you take the line-out? Would you consider a scrum? I would consider

:40:07. > :40:10.scrum actually but Ireland have been cut from five metres out in the

:40:11. > :40:14.past. The more times you have to defend, the less chance you have.

:40:15. > :40:20.They are wary of giving away a penalty, they are wary of the yellow

:40:21. > :40:26.card and you have to be careful. They did not have to leap too far.

:40:27. > :40:27.Very well set up. Ireland again and it splinters and breaks. WHISTLE

:40:28. > :40:38.The decision... Well, scrum to Scotland. That was

:40:39. > :40:40.set up and it looks like it was going to be going over the line

:40:41. > :40:49.without any trouble whatsoever. The referee has deemed that it

:40:50. > :40:54.separated. We can see that look at that. You probably think that is

:40:55. > :40:57.going to go over. Where is the separation? They've basically

:40:58. > :41:04.changed lanes. That is what they call it. Accidental offside. Without

:41:05. > :41:08.indicating. Jonny Gray's had a bit of treatment and Scotland have the

:41:09. > :41:12.scrum. But it's a small respite, isn't it? You asked me earlier that

:41:13. > :41:18.the scrum but the big thing is the coach. He is seen two scrums from a

:41:19. > :41:22.good angle as well and it will be interesting to see what changes they

:41:23. > :41:29.can make from that feedback from the touchline. Keep an eye on Schmidt

:41:30. > :41:37.along with Andy Farrell, keep an eye on Tadhg Furlong and Allan Dell. A

:41:38. > :41:41.bit of a mismatch. This is where Fraser Brown needs to get this to

:41:42. > :41:47.Josh Strauss' feet as quick as possible. Ireland but the squeeze on

:41:48. > :41:49.and Scotland battling. It is not coming back and Scotland under real

:41:50. > :42:00.pressure. Murray complains. What is the decision? The ball got

:42:01. > :42:03.to the back of the scrum but they weren't in any position. As a

:42:04. > :42:07.scrum-half, you don't want to pick it up when you're not in a passing

:42:08. > :42:10.position, they need to get Josh Strauss into the channel one

:42:11. > :42:14.position in many ways. It does lessen the push through the two

:42:15. > :42:18.second rows. They have to try to get this out as quickly as possible.

:42:19. > :42:26.Scotland want a fast and loose game, they don't want any of the set piece

:42:27. > :42:30.of nonsense. But Ireland are in a great position, even though they do

:42:31. > :42:34.not have the put-in. They have a view things to say, the Scotland's

:42:35. > :42:41.forwards coach. In it goes from Laidlaw. Looking for it sharply at

:42:42. > :42:48.the back. There it is full Scotland. They will run a bid from their own

:42:49. > :42:54.line. Dunbar did a carry -- run a bit. Deep into the in-goal area.

:42:55. > :42:57.Hogg. A following breeze. It can send them a long way down but Connie

:42:58. > :43:05.Mack is waiting for them. In full flight. -- but Kearney. He almost

:43:06. > :43:15.managed it. Jackson gives it a bit deeper to

:43:16. > :43:24.Zebo. A half chance. Back they go bust Rory Best has to tumble on it.

:43:25. > :43:37.A bit of a charge from CJ Stander. The kick is coming. Setting up the

:43:38. > :43:42.goals from Murray. A good take from Hogg. All he can do is wander

:43:43. > :43:46.towards the East stand. You had just seen the whole repertoire from

:43:47. > :43:51.Stuart Hogg. The try scorer, the long kick from defence. The spiral

:43:52. > :43:55.and the high ball. He's got everything. He's an outstanding

:43:56. > :44:00.player with full of confidence. He knocks his team-mate and friend,

:44:01. > :44:05.Seymour out because he is in such good form in all aspects of the

:44:06. > :44:08.game. Difficult conditions for a man and a high ball today, the flags

:44:09. > :44:13.really are in full sail in the East stand. Murray and Jackson. Another

:44:14. > :44:24.opportunity. Scotland wants more on the defence

:44:25. > :44:37.gets it away sharply on the defence. Zebo. So long to Jackson. Toner hit

:44:38. > :44:45.hard by Strauss and company. Ireland still with it. Ringrose now tries to

:44:46. > :44:49.guide his way past Russell. Plenty of ball for Ireland. The spill in

:44:50. > :44:55.the tackle. Wilson comes away with it. Russell decides to put a boot on

:44:56. > :45:01.ball, downwind behind a Zebo. Zebo and Kearney wondering about and

:45:02. > :45:07.trying to turn it. Punching it into the wind. Some gross defensive play

:45:08. > :45:13.from Scotland, they have defended 25 metre mauls, a five metre scrum,

:45:14. > :45:17.cleared their lines well. They are putting them under pressure. This

:45:18. > :45:20.was the pressure on Murray that we talked about so much for the last

:45:21. > :45:27.few weeks. Ten out of ten. Russell coming through. There has been a

:45:28. > :45:34.real bike about Scotland's defence. Good line speed and organisation.

:45:35. > :45:39.The man alongside Vern Cotter, Jason O'Halloran, the attack coach. He

:45:40. > :45:42.said that wasn't straight. Not even close to being straight. These are

:45:43. > :45:47.the things, when your scrum is under pressure, that's a free ball, a free

:45:48. > :45:51.opportunity to probably get another penalty and then get 40 yards down

:45:52. > :45:57.there and defend your line-out in U own 22. We talked -- we had Stuart

:45:58. > :46:01.Hogg talk about set piece evidence. Take parity at this stage. Fraser

:46:02. > :46:08.Brown has to apologise and say scrum again. Jason O'Halloran was saying

:46:09. > :46:09.that Scotland are a couple of years away from being at their best. A lot

:46:10. > :46:20.of young players in there. The area that every site needs a

:46:21. > :46:22.really strong tight head, Zander Fagerson is powerful enough but

:46:23. > :46:28.still very young. WHISTLE Again, penalty to Ireland. There

:46:29. > :46:36.will be a talking to, here. Perhaps, next time, something more.

:46:37. > :46:44.Infringement at the scrum. Don't let them hit and go forward. That was

:46:45. > :46:51.steady but number three collapsing. The new one has had a go at trying

:46:52. > :46:56.to chat to the referee. There's no talking to him. I don't think

:46:57. > :46:59.there's any value in trying to influence the referee. I tried to do

:47:00. > :47:04.it for too long. You pick and choose one or two moments and that's it.

:47:05. > :47:09.But the odd word, what Greg just did, watch what they are doing, is

:47:10. > :47:14.always good. He has planted a seed about the kick and chase. It is

:47:15. > :47:17.something that is... You may have a point, looking at that scrum, you

:47:18. > :47:21.may have a point. What a kick that was from the penalty, though. This

:47:22. > :47:24.into a bit of a breeze and it has taken Ireland all the way up to

:47:25. > :47:31.within ten metres of the Scottish line. Rory Best. Looking for his

:47:32. > :47:40.target. Again, it goes wrong for Ireland. Back, six, green. Quickest

:47:41. > :47:43.to it was the more. Scotland try and earn a few yards before their

:47:44. > :47:58.clearance. Brown playing it back. Hogg. Had to send that one of his

:47:59. > :47:59.left boot. Zebo again. It is all happening inside the Scottish half.

:48:00. > :48:13.WHISTLE You know, that was the worry for me.

:48:14. > :48:17.A big part of the Irish line-up for the last few years and he's one of

:48:18. > :48:21.the best back row jumpers around. He takes the pressure off the line-up.

:48:22. > :48:24.Towards the end of my career when I was getting older and slower, it was

:48:25. > :48:30.great to have him there. He's a big loss to the Irish side today.

:48:31. > :48:34.Amazing the contrast in the set piece scrum has been dominated by

:48:35. > :48:37.Ireland. Line-out, Scotland have gotten in there but in the loose,

:48:38. > :48:42.Scotland are dominating in that space. This is the line-out which

:48:43. > :48:45.went wrong, Richie Gray in front of Devin Toner. Well cleared up by

:48:46. > :48:50.Tommy Seymour by the way. Richie Gray doing his best to disrupt.

:48:51. > :48:54.Scotland's line-out, now. Andy Farrell. Joe Schmidt. They need

:48:55. > :49:09.to be in there as well. A quarter of the match gone and

:49:10. > :49:13.still just one school from Scotland from one real attack but here they

:49:14. > :49:23.come again. Arch one score. Stuart Hogg! Two for Hogg! 'S chances, two

:49:24. > :49:29.scores for Scotland. Up against it for so much that they leave by 12

:49:30. > :49:36.points and Murrayfield wands again alive. Stuart Hogg and 15. The man

:49:37. > :49:41.is on fire. -- once again. Trying to get space forward. Somebody in this

:49:42. > :49:46.vein of form with the confidence got, and he can snatch at the line.

:49:47. > :49:54.Outstanding finish. You knew that Keith earls was drifting out. All

:49:55. > :49:58.set up. Nice, flat pass. He knew that Kearney would take the final

:49:59. > :50:02.man. What a try. What a player he is.

:50:03. > :50:08.Earls is not that slow. It goes to show how fast Stuart Hogg is. Before

:50:09. > :50:12.this week, everyone will be picking his Lions team and Stuart Hogg would

:50:13. > :50:17.probably be the first guy on it. And this is why. Remember his trial last

:50:18. > :50:23.Yaffe of the Aviva Stadium? From 50 yards. That was a bit shorter --

:50:24. > :50:26.last year at the Aviva Stadium. That was electric. Player at the last Six

:50:27. > :50:33.Nations, he was voted will stop second try. Laidlaw chance from the

:50:34. > :50:37.other side of the pitch. Whatever side he scopes them through.

:50:38. > :50:41.Scotland 14 points out. APPLAUSE It's a curious game for many years,

:50:42. > :50:44.Scotland supporters watch their side play and had lots of possession and

:50:45. > :50:50.territory but couldn't score tries. Now just two real chances at twice

:50:51. > :50:54.taken. If you think about it, the referee, at the next scrum, Scotland

:50:55. > :50:57.could go down to 14 member they have 14 points but that they have played

:50:58. > :51:05.with such confidence and accuracy -- 14 men, but they have. Bounces off

:51:06. > :51:11.Hogg. So, he is human. He is human after all! Commentator's curse.

:51:12. > :51:17.Ireland had a line-out again. A huge target.

:51:18. > :51:24.Devin Toner. The last couple of line-out have not gone well. In

:51:25. > :51:28.fact, they are coming back for the knock-on. There will be a line-out

:51:29. > :51:32.and scrum again, which is certainly better for Ireland. This is where

:51:33. > :51:35.Scotland have to look a bit more robust. Ireland happy enough it's

:51:36. > :51:50.going to the scrum. Ladle shouting a few instructions to

:51:51. > :51:58.his defence, backline -- Laidlaw shouting. A more solid scrum.

:51:59. > :52:04.Jackson to Henshaw. Tumbling into the 22, how can Ireland respond?

:52:05. > :52:07.Jackson, good strength and Paddy Jackson almost threw on his own!

:52:08. > :52:12.Hamish Watson eventually got to him that options either side for

:52:13. > :52:18.Ireland. Heaslip. Mary slapping away johnny -- Jonny Gray. Carried by

:52:19. > :52:22.Iain Henderson. Stander. Ireland assaulting the

:52:23. > :52:39.Scottish line. A good ball for Ireland to play

:52:40. > :52:43.with. Henshaw again. Bowling his way on.

:52:44. > :52:58.Punching away, blindside. Scrambling on. Murray looks for Henderson.

:52:59. > :53:00.Carried by O'Brien instead. Hit by the pace. Going through the phases.

:53:01. > :53:12.Heaslip. Jackson. Kearney. Huw Jones and

:53:13. > :53:21.Hamish Watson, there. Still with Ireland. Strauss and Richie Gray

:53:22. > :53:28.claim him. Jackson, again. Upended. Still they come. 15, 16 phases now.

:53:29. > :53:36.Stander rolling on. Zebo into play. Scrum-half. Battering away. McGrath.

:53:37. > :53:42.The Scottish defence still working. But working so hard. Heaslip now

:53:43. > :53:43.through. Body is getting rather weary. Penalty, advantage, to

:53:44. > :53:57.Ireland. Six, away! Murray digs. Closing in on 20

:53:58. > :54:00.phases. Jackson to Zebo. Seymour tries to get it. Earls for the

:54:01. > :54:08.corner. Ireland hit back! He thinks he's scored, the crowd in

:54:09. > :54:11.that, think he's scored. They will just check. -- the crowd in that

:54:12. > :54:25.corner. REFEREE: To check if the player has

:54:26. > :54:30.touched the ground. Please. Try, yes or no. Scotland's defence up until

:54:31. > :54:33.that point were good because Ireland were one-dimensional, quite

:54:34. > :54:42.predictable. Almost when the penalty advantage was conceded, let's have a

:54:43. > :54:46.look... Yeah, that's a try. A clear try. Once the penalty advantage

:54:47. > :54:50.happened, it was likely Scottish defence lost that intensity and the

:54:51. > :54:56.big pass out wide went and I could try. A good finish by Keith earls.

:54:57. > :55:02.Glenn Newman, the TMO says you can awarded. WHISTLE

:55:03. > :55:04.A tough conversion. I think Fraser Brown is coming off for blood coming

:55:05. > :55:15.out of his nose. It falls to Paddy Jackson. A fine,

:55:16. > :55:19.fine placekicker. Almost nearing 90% last year in international rugby.

:55:20. > :55:22.The wind swirls around inside Murrayfield from right out on the

:55:23. > :55:39.touchline. 5-point try. What a start to the

:55:40. > :55:42.game. I am sure it is nothing to do with bonus points but a veritable

:55:43. > :55:50.try Best. They deserve a try. Tommy Seymour does read the game

:55:51. > :55:55.very well. Probably should have had it because he got both hands, you

:55:56. > :55:58.can see his frustration in the bottom corner. Rugby should have

:55:59. > :56:02.taken that and it would have been a three point rather than a five point

:56:03. > :56:06.-- probably should have. Advantage being played in any case but Seymour

:56:07. > :56:09.doesn't miss too many of those. Only seven minutes gone.

:56:10. > :56:19.REFEREE: Not on the ball. I don't need your support, thank you.

:56:20. > :56:23.Furlong. Back on temporarily for Fraser

:56:24. > :56:27.Brown. Richie Gray pretends he's getting

:56:28. > :56:39.out of the way. REFEREE: Advantage. A mistake. They

:56:40. > :56:42.tried to launch a flurry down the blindside and almost away, Tommy

:56:43. > :56:46.Seymour but Scotland with another opportunity. Fagerson. The young man

:56:47. > :56:49.very strong in the loose. Laidlaw switches it. Russell has a bit of a

:56:50. > :56:58.think. Scotland get it a setback. A gift of

:56:59. > :57:03.an opportunity for Scotland. Josh Strauss.

:57:04. > :57:13.REFEREE: Heads up. The call is eventually laid. Russell. A bit of a

:57:14. > :57:20.trip. Zebo able to watch it but it only slides out with it. A great way

:57:21. > :57:23.from the chip. Strange from Ireland, you would have thought they would

:57:24. > :57:24.have exited with a big kick from Murray to try something on the short

:57:25. > :57:37.side. Came off Rob Carney unaware of

:57:38. > :57:43.Murray's intentions. Opportunity for Scotland, needing half an hour. --

:57:44. > :57:48.Rob Kearney. Ireland's turn to defend the five metre Drive. Nervous

:57:49. > :57:51.and difficult place to defend. Both sides have been uncertain in the

:57:52. > :57:58.line-out. A sneaky one and straight through for the try. Dunbar. Alex

:57:59. > :58:05.Dunbar straight through the middle, catching Ireland unawares. Great

:58:06. > :58:08.invention. But where was the Irish defence watching? Alex Dunbar

:58:09. > :58:12.getting in among the forwards. Outstanding play. Very tricky little

:58:13. > :58:19.player, no lift, no job, just puts it over the top of Greig Laidlaw in

:58:20. > :58:23.front of the line-out. Very simple. You can see that Ireland are set up

:58:24. > :58:26.to defend the middle and the back of the line-out, not just set up to

:58:27. > :58:31.defend the front, they are hoping to go to the front and Ireland can

:58:32. > :58:37.drive them into the touchline. Just goes straight over Greig Laidlaw's

:58:38. > :58:42.head. Great little play. Great little play. Not often you see the

:58:43. > :58:48.backs lurking in and taking part in the line-out. Dunbar, so well

:58:49. > :58:52.worked. In lot of teams now do ten, 11 man drives, they bring in the

:58:53. > :58:56.centres. They set up the line-out and bring in the backs, we've seen

:58:57. > :59:00.England to do it a lot recently. Ireland were getting ready for a big

:59:01. > :59:03.drive, when you bring in the backs. You're thinking this is going to be

:59:04. > :59:09.a big drive, we don't need to worry about a play at the backline. Pretty

:59:10. > :59:13.much three moves to the 22 and three tries. Laidlaw. A wonderful kick. In

:59:14. > :59:19.those conditions off a right foot as well.

:59:20. > :59:28.I would never have thought Scotland would be one of the bonus point

:59:29. > :59:32.before half-time. Such a one off. Straight over Greig Laidlaw. Rory

:59:33. > :59:36.Best is there to mark him. Not expecting him. It's not something

:59:37. > :59:48.we've seen from Scotland in the past. Fielded well by Hamish Watson.

:59:49. > :00:04.Scotland try and accept their 22. Good take. Straight down the middle

:00:05. > :00:08.it goes. Sits up for Paddy Jackson. Ireland looking for the response

:00:09. > :00:14.again. Kearney. Wrapped up by Jonny Gray.

:00:15. > :00:22.The switch to Zebo. Onto Ringrose. In confusion with Robbie Henshaw.

:00:23. > :00:31.The referee having a long look at that. It seems fine.

:00:32. > :00:39.Stander to Jackson. Deep it goes now. Earls must take it at a

:00:40. > :00:46.standstill. Good power, not the biggest man but plenty of strength.

:00:47. > :00:52.Furlong to Henderson. The referee says that's fine. Jackson again,

:00:53. > :01:05.deep it goes, and on through the Leinster men, Henshaw and then

:01:06. > :01:10.Ringrose. Stander hit hard again. Here is Henshaw. No way through, Huw

:01:11. > :01:16.Jones takes him down. Ireland going through the phases, trying to build.

:01:17. > :01:25.The captain carries, Jackson and Henderson, little pop to Kearney,

:01:26. > :01:30.unceremoniously dumped. There is Henshaw again but Ireland not making

:01:31. > :01:41.much ground at the moment, through a dozen phases now. The little step

:01:42. > :01:44.came from Ringrose. Heaslip. Advantage to Ireland. Scotland

:01:45. > :01:47.offside. A little free attack from Jackson to try something but they

:01:48. > :01:53.will come back for that penalty now. The quality of the Scottish tackling

:01:54. > :01:57.is outstanding. A lot of talk about defensive systems in the modern

:01:58. > :02:01.game, but the guys have two man up and make big tackles as well. When

:02:02. > :02:07.you see Ireland playing well in the autumn they play quick ball. The

:02:08. > :02:10.Scottish tackling is excellent. The disappointing thing from the

:02:11. > :02:14.Scottish perspective is because their defence has been so strong,

:02:15. > :02:18.give the extra half Yarde, that was done for offside, not retreating

:02:19. > :02:21.back, and it wasn't that quick ball. They can afford to get behind the

:02:22. > :02:26.offside line, don't give the referee or the touch judge a chance because

:02:27. > :02:31.the defence is so strong. The possession stats, 63% for Ireland,

:02:32. > :02:36.since is prevailing here now and Ireland looking to accumulate some

:02:37. > :02:41.points. Ireland look predictable at the moment. Probably as a result of

:02:42. > :02:45.good Scottish defence. Hamish Watson at the breakdown as well, I was

:02:46. > :02:49.wondering why Barclay wasn't playing but sometimes he's not as clean at

:02:50. > :02:52.the breakdown, Chris Paterson, we were chatting before the game,

:02:53. > :02:58.sometimes he's not so clean at the breakdown. He gives away very few

:02:59. > :03:03.penalties, gets it out before he gets into trouble. Good strike from

:03:04. > :03:09.Paddy Jackson, three points for Ireland, they move onto eight.

:03:10. > :03:16.Something for the Irish supporters to cheer but not too much so far.

:03:17. > :03:26.And plenty for the Irish coaching team to mull over at half-time.

:03:27. > :03:39.Russell with the restart. Devin Toner takes it down. Murray just

:03:40. > :03:48.gets the kick away. Richie Gray. The big man in his way. Hogg. Irish

:03:49. > :03:55.shirts around the flying full-back. Here is Hamish Watson again. Through

:03:56. > :03:59.Ringrose and still going, he's a squat, powerful ball-carrier.

:04:00. > :04:05.Russell sliding through almost, gives it to Jonny Gray. Ireland

:04:06. > :04:09.getting some hands on that. Fagerson. Scotland look to build

:04:10. > :04:26.again. Richie Gray. Russell. Heaslip takes him down.

:04:27. > :04:31.Stander trying to secure the turnover but gets the penalty for

:04:32. > :04:34.Ireland. It was a strong first tackle, Finn Russell was just the

:04:35. > :04:38.wrong way and had to work really hard to get his body round to get

:04:39. > :04:42.the ball back which allowed time for CJ Stander to get on it and when he

:04:43. > :04:46.is on it he is so strong. I've watched Finn Russell twice in that

:04:47. > :04:50.set of phases, he was taking the ball to the line, putting inside

:04:51. > :04:54.dummies, outside dummies, which holds the defence and that's the

:04:55. > :05:04.style of play which has freed up them to get the tries. Heaslip,

:05:05. > :05:09.struggling to get his body round, allowing time for Stander to get in.

:05:10. > :05:12.Good back row sort of double defence, one making the tackle and

:05:13. > :05:18.one affecting the penalty. Irish line-out again, this has been

:05:19. > :05:22.misfiring. It works better this time for the men in green, carried by

:05:23. > :05:30.Stander, such a powerful man. Hamish Watson just gets to him eventually.

:05:31. > :05:33.And then Kearney, the strength from the full-back again, Maitland.

:05:34. > :05:43.Ireland looking for a score before half-time. And there is CJ Stander.

:05:44. > :05:48.Murray gets his pass away to Henshaw and Keith earls.

:05:49. > :05:59.Jack McGrath. Henderson. Again it goes deep from Ireland and Sean

:06:00. > :06:04.O'Brien thumps his way into the challenge from Huw Jones and Jones

:06:05. > :06:13.is getting in the way of it. Murray gives it to Tadhg Furlong. Phase

:06:14. > :06:19.after phase for Ireland. Henderson on to Henshaw, well taken by

:06:20. > :06:24.Laidlaw. The penalty is Scotland's penalty this time. I wasn't sure

:06:25. > :06:29.which way Romain Poite was pointing. Great defence from Scotland. It

:06:30. > :06:35.really was really good. Especially when Ireland did go wide it was one

:06:36. > :06:39.on one on two and sometimes more defenders than attackers. They are

:06:40. > :06:43.working very well and being very efficient in the contact to get

:06:44. > :06:47.outside and fill the gaps. It has been outstanding defensive display

:06:48. > :06:53.by Scotland so far. Ireland have had a lot of possession, but I think we

:06:54. > :06:57.are quite slow, the ball we are generating just doesn't look

:06:58. > :07:00.threatening. Scotland look really comfortable at defending. They

:07:01. > :07:04.looked like they are making really big hits. You can see that here.

:07:05. > :07:07.They are not just making big hits, it's the second effort and then

:07:08. > :07:12.getting back into line and back into the defensive line and having that a

:07:13. > :07:18.pace to come off. It has been a very collective defence. Taylor on the

:07:19. > :07:24.front left of Vern Cotter, look at the tackles, 84 tackles they have

:07:25. > :07:28.made compared to 37. They have missed 12 but they haven't really

:07:29. > :07:32.impacted the game. It has been the intensity, pace, ferocity and

:07:33. > :07:36.collectiveness which has been very impressive. Instead it will be

:07:37. > :07:38.Scotland looking for another score before half-time. And again, the

:07:39. > :07:49.line-outs have been inconsistent from both sides. Ryan Wilson the man

:07:50. > :07:54.at the front, as Scotland try and get it away, not perhaps the 40 but

:07:55. > :08:00.they start to move and Ford gives it to Laidlaw, crashing through, see

:08:01. > :08:05.more off the wing. Russell hurling it wide and Hogg again, the danger

:08:06. > :08:10.of the little step, Huw Jones is lending his support. Maitland to

:08:11. > :08:15.ground. Scotland into the 22 again. Ryan Wilson with the carry, again

:08:16. > :08:23.Henderson trying to keep up. Wilson eventually gets to ground. Onto

:08:24. > :08:29.Gray, the elder, Richie Gray sets it back. Nobody there at the moment,

:08:30. > :08:38.the scrum-half for Scotland. Jonny Gray gives it the way to carry it

:08:39. > :08:49.on. Laidlaw points the way again. A more deliberate, Paul Fuller sack

:08:50. > :08:53.this from Scotland. Still there. Looking for try number four before

:08:54. > :08:57.half-time. Options outside to Strauss, almost goes through Jack

:08:58. > :09:02.McGrath and Ireland's defence is beginning to buckle a little bit.

:09:03. > :09:07.Jonny Gray. No support, goes himself. It's not the quickest

:09:08. > :09:10.attack but it's building and building and Russell to Hogg and the

:09:11. > :09:15.tackle comes in this time, good strength from the full-back, Heaslip

:09:16. > :09:20.was piling in on him. It is still there just for Scotland. That Apple

:09:21. > :09:26.had to be made on Hogg. Richie Gray and Scotland up to within six or

:09:27. > :09:30.seven metres. 11 phases, 30 seconds before half-time. Jonny Gray out

:09:31. > :09:37.wide to Russell who tries to offload and it is an interception! Zebo

:09:38. > :09:43.kicks and the chase is on. See more against Zebo. Seymour is there but

:09:44. > :09:46.Zebo is upon him. -- Seymour. Seymour is back on his feet, and who

:09:47. > :09:50.will have the final say in this first half? The ball is there for

:09:51. > :09:59.Scotland. Laidlaw summoning in the troops. He just takes a moment and

:10:00. > :10:05.the half will be over now. Scotland might just kick it out. Laidlaw

:10:06. > :10:09.asking the question. Out it will go now. A frantic end to the first

:10:10. > :10:13.half. Unbelievable first half, unbelievable finish, as ever with

:10:14. > :10:16.the interception it can go either way but you saw a bit of leadership

:10:17. > :10:23.from Greig Laidlaw, who knew there was ten seconds, one more phase, get

:10:24. > :10:27.it out. 21-8, I have to say what an unbelievable first 40 minutes of

:10:28. > :10:31.this year's RBS Six Nations. Scotland look more dangerous, every

:10:32. > :10:34.time they get the ball you feel if Hogg or Seymour get it something

:10:35. > :10:41.will happen, I don't get that feeling when Ireland have the ball.

:10:42. > :10:43.There we are, what a half, 21-8, three tries to one, but this game is

:10:44. > :10:56.far from done. Scotland high on the Hogg after the

:10:57. > :11:00.opening 40 minutes of the RBS Six Nations, first try for Stuart Hogg,

:11:01. > :11:04.second try for Stuart Hogg making him Scotland's all-time leading try

:11:05. > :11:09.scorer in the Six Nations so far. Welcome to the brave new world of

:11:10. > :11:13.bonus point try scoring attacking, running rugby of the Six Nations.

:11:14. > :11:15.All we need is the weather and you get a product like this. Just

:11:16. > :11:21.imagine how different things might be if the weather men had been right

:11:22. > :11:25.and we had horizontal rain and howling gales, how different things

:11:26. > :11:27.might have been. Anyway, there are the facts and figures, most

:11:28. > :11:31.interestingly, whenever you watch the All Blacks played they play in

:11:32. > :11:35.matches when they have less possession and score more points and

:11:36. > :11:38.this has been the successful role for Scotland at the moment. What a

:11:39. > :11:43.start and opening 40 minutes of rugby. It's incredibly Scotland only

:11:44. > :11:49.have 40% possession, they've missed 14 tackles, lost the penalty count

:11:50. > :11:52.7-2 but 21-8 up, some brilliant tries and brilliant endeavour. The

:11:53. > :11:56.accuracy on the outside channels, just blown away by the intensity

:11:57. > :12:02.Scotland started that match with. It's extraordinarily, phenomenal,

:12:03. > :12:05.great attitude, great attention to detail, great turnovers from

:12:06. > :12:10.Scotland, and the absolute reverse from Ireland. The Lions play has

:12:11. > :12:14.been poor, the attention to detail, they are dreadful. It is amazing

:12:15. > :12:18.when you can see a switch on one side or the other, when Ireland got

:12:19. > :12:22.a little touch for one moment they scored a try but other than that

:12:23. > :12:27.they have not been in the game. It is worth saying it is only two

:12:28. > :12:29.scores. Two fantastic scores. The first 40 minutes have been

:12:30. > :12:33.fantastic, we have been riveted watching it and it is spectacular.

:12:34. > :12:37.You've got to applaud Scotland because normally you get a side that

:12:38. > :12:40.dominates one area but not only have they tackled their hearts out, lots

:12:41. > :12:50.of energy spent there. In attack they have been a superb offence as

:12:51. > :12:56.they have defence. We pinpointed Hogg before the game and we were

:12:57. > :12:59.right. He does this for his club team and he keeps doing it and

:13:00. > :13:01.getting better and better. This came after a big build-up from Scotland

:13:02. > :13:06.who started the game particularly well. They were knocking on the

:13:07. > :13:12.door. We felt this pass could have gone out the back earlier behind to

:13:13. > :13:17.Huw Jones but Scotland didn't do that. He is terribly strong in

:13:18. > :13:20.contact, there he is on the outside, Sean Maitland getting frustrated but

:13:21. > :13:24.the rest of the squad keep their composure, built the phases, hold

:13:25. > :13:28.their width, and Stuart Hogg could have scored that, Tommy Seymour

:13:29. > :13:32.could have scored. There is no way he is passing that after the long

:13:33. > :13:38.pass. Two passes covering 35 metres, the bouncing ball, Ringrose trying

:13:39. > :13:42.to get to it. The ball was always just outside, he ended up slipping

:13:43. > :13:46.trying to get to it. The tackle Ringrose try to put in there, so

:13:47. > :13:49.important that Kearney cut off a try when he hit Hogg and when you

:13:50. > :13:54.mistimed it and don't get there in time you get the space. If you go

:13:55. > :13:57.for it you have to make it. When you were playing you have the ability to

:13:58. > :14:07.run very fast and then go a bit quicker and that's what Stuart Hogg

:14:08. > :14:10.did for the second try. It's great to see a player in form come to the

:14:11. > :14:13.international arena and do it and continue to do it. This was a great

:14:14. > :14:18.set move from Scotland. Sorry! The beauty is it is quick ball. Keith

:14:19. > :14:23.Earls is stranded a bit, unsure, the Irish defence is very narrow. Does

:14:24. > :14:28.he go in? Does he go out? Does he stay? He is a bit in a lost land and

:14:29. > :14:34.Scotland attack the width and Hogg gets away. The beauty of the wave

:14:35. > :14:36.Hogg and Maitland set up, in the outside channel if they are not

:14:37. > :14:42.there it makes it easier for Keith Earls but because they are wide they

:14:43. > :14:45.can come straight onto the ball and Hogg blasts over for his second. It

:14:46. > :14:49.was as if the Irish defence got confused by what happened on the

:14:50. > :14:54.previous plate and they were at sixes and sevens, Keith Earls

:14:55. > :14:57.rushing to get into defence, and you have to get the man and ball.

:14:58. > :15:02.Strange to see in international game that space exposure, because

:15:03. > :15:05.Scotland went down the blindside on their next try and it's incredible

:15:06. > :15:12.they are giving them that much space. Quick ball at the breakdown.

:15:13. > :15:17.Both of Scotland's tries have come from quick ball. Looking at the

:15:18. > :15:19.Irish try, Ireland had a penalty at the time anyway so they were

:15:20. > :15:24.probably going to kick from in front of the posts and get three points

:15:25. > :15:27.anyway. How would you evaluate what happened? Should the intercept pass

:15:28. > :15:31.have been taken which would have stopped the try? Initially we felt

:15:32. > :15:36.this was too high for Seymour. It was after 18 phases and penalty

:15:37. > :15:41.advantage. We can see again, maybe he should have stuck but Keith Earls

:15:42. > :15:45.does wonderfully well to finish off. I looked at that and thought Zebo

:15:46. > :15:48.got away with it. I didn't think he was in this early good play, they

:15:49. > :15:51.got away with it, that could have gone the length of the other way but

:15:52. > :15:55.Ireland have forced to many things and haven't been direct enough in

:15:56. > :16:01.the first half. Lucky to get that try. If 18 phases? Ireland haven't

:16:02. > :16:06.been allowed to go through those phases. The defence of Scotland is

:16:07. > :16:10.quick of the line and nailing the one-on-one tackles. If you were

:16:11. > :16:13.watching before the match began we had an interview with Eddie Jones,

:16:14. > :16:16.the England coach, saying the thing about rugby these days was being

:16:17. > :16:20.innovative, coming up with new ideas and foxing your opposition and

:16:21. > :16:23.surprising them. Let's talk about the line-out, lots of people

:16:24. > :16:27.watching, the backs played the backs and forwards play the forwards, so

:16:28. > :16:31.what is Alex Dunbar wearing number 12 doing there? Smoke and mirrors. I

:16:32. > :16:34.guess the Irish would have been thinking the ball is going to the

:16:35. > :16:38.back, they have loaded the Scottish forwards in the back of the

:16:39. > :16:43.line-out. You can see it is a move from the training field and Dunbar

:16:44. > :16:46.reached up and not even jumped, he reached up. The Irish guys at the

:16:47. > :16:50.front of the line-out don't believe it is going to him. What I love

:16:51. > :16:54.about this is at the end of his international career they will say

:16:55. > :17:01.Alex Dunbar, line-out wins 100%, pretty cool. There was a little bit

:17:02. > :17:04.of confusion. Ireland have been stepped off the pace mentally and

:17:05. > :17:08.physically for the whole 40 minutes. That could change at half-time but

:17:09. > :17:11.they really need to get to the pace of the game and they are well off it

:17:12. > :17:14.at the moment. How much are they off the pace because the Scottish

:17:15. > :17:19.defence has been so immense? It has been. A lot of defence is technique

:17:20. > :17:23.and lots of it is raw enthusiasm and passion and Scotland have had both.

:17:24. > :17:27.Coming off line quickly, making big collisions, Sean O'Brien is a big

:17:28. > :17:30.ball carrier so that is a statement of not only intent but also action.

:17:31. > :17:36.Coming forward, Zander Fagerson hitting Rory Best behind the gain

:17:37. > :17:41.line for a five metres behind it. The tackling was fantastic. I think

:17:42. > :17:44.a lot of that is to do with the level love directness and power and

:17:45. > :17:48.pace that Ireland are putting into it. They slowed down into a couple

:17:49. > :17:51.of those tackles and not in the right body position to do it and not

:17:52. > :17:55.in control of the collision. This is more about Scotland's defence and

:17:56. > :18:00.not so much, Ireland, talking about the mind and body, island are a good

:18:01. > :18:04.side and we saw that in the autumn but Scotland have raised the

:18:05. > :18:07.intensity and gone above Ireland. One thing we can be sure of as the

:18:08. > :18:11.match goes on and people get tired the bench has to come into play and

:18:12. > :18:15.the scrum could become a key area. Ireland have complete domination at

:18:16. > :18:19.the moment. When we started watching this, at the start of the game we

:18:20. > :18:23.said, my God, if Ireland have such control at the stage and bring this

:18:24. > :18:27.tempo to the rest of the game they will be in charge but exactly as

:18:28. > :18:31.Jerry has said, this has been the only area where Ireland's attention

:18:32. > :18:34.to detail has been right and where there focus and attitude has been at

:18:35. > :18:38.the required level and Scotland have been off the mark. In all other

:18:39. > :18:42.facets Scotland have tipped the balance. Ireland rely on execution

:18:43. > :18:46.could. The line-out they have lost 50% of, they got into attacking

:18:47. > :18:49.positions and lost the ball, had the ball turned over, it is unlike

:18:50. > :18:54.Ireland but that's because the pressure of the Scottish defence is

:18:55. > :19:03.really getting to them. It is 21-8. We mentioned bonus points and if

:19:04. > :19:05.it's the first time you are watching the Six Nations, today it will be,

:19:06. > :19:08.but if it's the first time you're watching rugby, in the context of

:19:09. > :19:10.the bonus point environment it is worth explaining. Scotland have

:19:11. > :19:13.three tries already and Ireland have scored one. This is how things are

:19:14. > :19:17.different in the Six Nations this year, four points if you win, not

:19:18. > :19:20.just two and a bonus point for scoring four tries and obviously

:19:21. > :19:25.Scotland need one more try to secure a bonus point. The losing team get a

:19:26. > :19:28.bonus point for scoring four tries irrespective of the Final Score.

:19:29. > :19:32.They get a bonus point as well if they lose by less than seven. In the

:19:33. > :19:44.event of a draw it is two points for a

:19:45. > :19:54.draw and a tremendous weekend of Six Nations Rugby.

:19:55. > :20:04.# The revolution will be televised # You can watch it in HD

:20:05. > :20:13.# From the safety of your city # The revolution will be televised

:20:14. > :20:19.# Choose to watch or not # From the safety of our sofas #

:20:20. > :20:28.Women's Six Nations, Sunday at 10:45pm, repeated on Monday also.

:20:29. > :20:33.Ireland beat Scotland last night, Wales narrowly ahead of Italy at the

:20:34. > :20:37.moment and England and France still to be played. So, if you haven't

:20:38. > :20:39.taken at rugby and you think this could be the sport for me this is

:20:40. > :20:48.how you do it. Get inspired is BBC sport's

:20:49. > :20:50.campaign. It is on the BBC sport website and you can find

:20:51. > :20:56.inspirational stories from people just like you, as well as hints,

:20:57. > :21:00.tips as well as over 70 practical guides to help you give something

:21:01. > :21:08.ago. There is an activity finder to help you find something to try near

:21:09. > :21:14.you. Just get up, get inspired and get active.

:21:15. > :21:20.Still two more games to come on the opening weekend of the Six Nations

:21:21. > :21:24.and they will all be rounded up for you in Six Nations Rugby special at

:21:25. > :21:29.6pm tomorrow night like the old days on BBC Two and in Scotland at 7pm.

:21:30. > :21:33.The Six Nations match at Twickenham between England and France is live

:21:34. > :21:40.on 5 live at 4:50pm this afternoon. If midway through that you think you

:21:41. > :21:49.fancy a change of sport why notched, not much the Davis Cup. And Usain

:21:50. > :21:55.Bolt and others in the event that is going to transform track and field,

:21:56. > :21:59.so they say, from Melbourne, 2:45pm tomorrow. Let's chat with a Scotsman

:22:00. > :22:03.and Irishman from up in the commentary box, Andy Nicol and Paul

:22:04. > :22:08.O'Connell. You've given a few half-time team talk single time,

:22:09. > :22:12.what would you say now? Ireland have a plan they haven't really stuck to.

:22:13. > :22:15.One of the big things that has been successful for Ireland in the last

:22:16. > :22:18.few years has been their set piece, the line-out has been excellent and

:22:19. > :22:22.they have always been disciplined, they don't give away silly

:22:23. > :22:26.penalties. You look at the line-out that was turned over for the first

:22:27. > :22:30.try, look at Simon Zebo going to the floor, not rolling and rotating and

:22:31. > :22:36.doing the best he can to get the ball back and get a penalty again

:22:37. > :22:39.and Ireland are under pressure. On the five metre drives Ireland have

:22:40. > :22:41.been good at defending five metre drives and good at converting when

:22:42. > :22:47.they get there but today has been the opposite. In many respects line

:22:48. > :22:51.discipline and five metre drives. Andy, Ireland can only get better,

:22:52. > :22:53.does that give you cause for concern?

:22:54. > :22:56.Obviously it does but the challenge for Scotland is to keep the

:22:57. > :23:00.intensity they have both in attack and defence which has been

:23:01. > :23:04.brilliant, attacking intent has been brilliant. Scrummaging aside that is

:23:05. > :23:08.probably Scotland's best of the first-half performance for a long

:23:09. > :23:12.time in every aspect. It is not just attack or in defence, it is both.

:23:13. > :23:19.There is the challenge, to keep it going. It will be an interesting

:23:20. > :23:23.changing room downstairs to what the coaches are saying but it has been

:23:24. > :23:26.an uplifting 40 minutes. The challenge for the neutrals watching

:23:27. > :23:32.is to make the second half every bit as good as the first.

:23:33. > :23:41.The excitement of the Six Nations remains, and we are under way in the

:23:42. > :23:48.2017 RBS Six Nations. Russell pushes it out and Hogg has it and Scotland

:23:49. > :23:55.score. May land outside, Stuart Hogg, it is all the way and two for

:23:56. > :24:02.Hogg. Out wide, Zebo goes for it, Ireland hit back. Sneaky one and it

:24:03. > :24:06.is Dunbar! 21-8, unbelievable first 40 minutes to this year's RBS Six

:24:07. > :24:14.Nations. When you look at the weather and the

:24:15. > :24:19.conditions here that has to be a factor in what has been a fantastic

:24:20. > :24:28.first 40 minutes. The sun is bailing people in the top flight on the far

:24:29. > :24:31.side in winter sunshine. The sun is out, I'm not sure what the

:24:32. > :24:35.temperature will be or how warm it is but it will be warm in the

:24:36. > :24:37.Scottish dressing room. They must stay calm. Coming out for the second

:24:38. > :24:43.half they must keep their accuracy, keep attacking the edge with quick

:24:44. > :24:46.ball. They cannot get overexcited. Keep the accuracy and hope for

:24:47. > :24:50.another 40 minutes from a Scottish perspective like we saw in the first

:24:51. > :24:55.half. It is moments like this when people look at the bench and save in

:24:56. > :24:59.the event of at 60, 65 minutes who are we bringing on? Who are the

:25:00. > :25:03.sides bringing on that might make the change from Ireland's

:25:04. > :25:06.perspective? Ireland seemed to have the stronger and more experienced

:25:07. > :25:10.bench and Scotland have been most vulnerable over the last 12 months

:25:11. > :25:13.in the last ten or 15 minutes. I also think Scotland might keep some

:25:14. > :25:19.players on the field. It depends on how it changes. For me it is all

:25:20. > :25:26.about the attitude, if Ireland can turn it back the other way again, or

:25:27. > :25:30.Scotland stay in the ascendancy, Scotland stopping everything Ireland

:25:31. > :25:33.try and do. You mean Scotland keep players longer on the field than

:25:34. > :25:36.they may have planned to initially? I think so, especially the front row

:25:37. > :25:41.and the props, they have a huge amount of experience at this level.

:25:42. > :25:45.They may want to try and take as much out of their players as they

:25:46. > :25:50.can. Would you be happy with a losing bonus point now? No, no

:25:51. > :25:54.interest in a bonus point. Jerry, final thought, how will it pan out?

:25:55. > :26:00.We talked about Joe Schmidt and how shrewd he is tactically. See how he

:26:01. > :26:04.has changed the Irish tactics for the second half. OK, we got off to a

:26:05. > :26:07.spectacular start, a real flyer, let's hope we have another of the

:26:08. > :26:12.same, back to Andrew Cotter. COMMENTATOR: No changes to either

:26:13. > :26:15.side at half-time but I'm sure there will be a change to the effort and

:26:16. > :26:18.efficiency of Ireland. They will know they are still within two

:26:19. > :26:22.converted tries and they have a little bit of wind at their backs,

:26:23. > :26:29.Hamish Watson, so impressive in the first half, carries. Again it was

:26:30. > :26:35.O'Brien trying to hold him up and Scotland try to dig themselves out

:26:36. > :26:39.of a bit of bother. Here is Hogg. He will not be getting the same

:26:40. > :26:43.distance with his boot in the second half as in the first and that will

:26:44. > :26:46.be a factor. Yeah, definitely, they need to figure out their exit

:26:47. > :26:48.strategy a bit, the first half they went straight back to Stuart Hogg

:26:49. > :26:52.and you could see the Irish defensive line was very quick, some

:26:53. > :26:56.pressure and it came off the side of his foot, so maybe Greig Laidlaw

:26:57. > :27:02.needs to put two up and maybe Finn Russell must take on the pressure of

:27:03. > :27:07.the kicking. Rory Best. This one was a bit of MS. Ford claims it for

:27:08. > :27:11.Scotland. We said no changes, he's still on, as far as I'm aware, a

:27:12. > :27:18.permanent change for Fraser Brown, as I'm aware. Scotland with a

:27:19. > :27:28.chance. Huw Jones trying to scoot his way around Ringrose. Hamish

:27:29. > :27:32.Watson again, a ball of energy. Trying to get the ball back. The

:27:33. > :27:40.referee says penalty to Ireland, good work by the Irish tacklers.

:27:41. > :27:43.Great work on the ground from Sean O'Brien, excellent work. He is a

:27:44. > :27:48.real groundhog of a number seven. He can carry and tackle but also great

:27:49. > :27:51.on the floor as well. Very important penalty. Another line-out for

:27:52. > :27:57.Ireland. This will be sent towards the corner and it may be the start

:27:58. > :28:04.of a long second half for Scotland as Jackson finds his target, 15,

:28:05. > :28:07.perhaps slightly more, metres from the try line. It is quite

:28:08. > :28:15.challenging for Devin Toner. Ireland's back row is the tallest.

:28:16. > :28:18.Brian Wilson, Scotland are tall men and good defenders and putting

:28:19. > :28:27.Ireland under a lot of pressure. Devin Toner. He is the only rugby

:28:28. > :28:35.player... Is he the man to go to? Rory Best. And now try and get the

:28:36. > :28:41.maul going, Scotland shoving them towards touch. Ireland still have

:28:42. > :28:48.that ball. It splinters away and where is the ball? Down to ground it

:28:49. > :28:55.goes. Stand against the power of the blindside flanker of Murray. Heaslip

:28:56. > :29:00.having a think about things. And Ireland getting deeper into the 22

:29:01. > :29:03.now, laid-back by O'Brien and Murray gives it on, Stander once more and

:29:04. > :29:11.Henderson alongside and Tadhg Furlong is there. The bridge there

:29:12. > :29:15.as it is carried and carried further into the 22 and Ireland with a real

:29:16. > :29:21.purpose now. Jackson with good strength laying it back to Murray

:29:22. > :29:25.and now to Tadhg Furlong again. Ireland getting closer and closer

:29:26. > :29:32.right at the start of the second half. Heaslip for Murray again and

:29:33. > :29:36.back to Jack McGrath. Scotland's defence is being sorely tested in

:29:37. > :29:42.the first half early on. Jackson with a little switch. Zebo, easily

:29:43. > :29:47.watched by Scotland, but wide it goes for Ireland. Kearney taken down

:29:48. > :29:52.by Huw Jones. Murray again flings it out. Carried in by Tadhg Furlong

:29:53. > :29:58.onto McGrath, McGrath is looking for support from Stander. Stander. And

:29:59. > :30:07.Ireland getting close again, O'Brien to Best, to Jackson. Advantage to

:30:08. > :30:12.Ireland. The penalty is there as Seymour was in an offside position.

:30:13. > :30:19.But Ireland looking for far more than a penalty here. To Henderson.

:30:20. > :30:26.16, 17 phases now, Toner on his shoulder. Wide to Zebo who spins and

:30:27. > :30:27.drives now. Little bit of a spill, back they will come for that

:30:28. > :30:38.penalty. That was about 20 phases. For the

:30:39. > :30:42.first 15 I thought Ireland were predictable in attack. One or two

:30:43. > :30:45.passes, easy to defend. Then some off-loading and you can see the

:30:46. > :30:50.difference. In, behind the defence and they got close to it. I can see

:30:51. > :30:55.why they are going for a scrum. Scotland need to be careful. Nine

:30:56. > :30:59.penalties already conceded in yellow card territory. It's a big moment

:31:00. > :31:07.for the Scottish scrum. If they can master this, if they can

:31:08. > :31:09.complete the scrum, defend their lines, clear their lines, a massive

:31:10. > :31:16.moment in the match. History would tell you in rugby that

:31:17. > :31:20.look at the two packs, the way it's gone so far, there is a very small

:31:21. > :31:26.chance of Scotland emerging from this without conceding any points.

:31:27. > :31:30.As Andy said, the danger is a penalty try, yellow card, they are

:31:31. > :31:33.all possibilities. You would imagine if I don't have the penalty they

:31:34. > :31:37.would go for a scrum. They are here to stay until they get a try.

:31:38. > :31:43.Russell going off for a head injury assessment. When Henschel carries

:31:44. > :31:48.the ball aggressively. It got bounced off his head. -- when

:31:49. > :31:55.Henschel. I watched him go to the far side. He will be in now to check

:31:56. > :32:00.everything is OK. Scotland desperately need to have him back.

:32:01. > :32:04.Hopefully he can pass this. Doctor Mikel will take a look at him. The

:32:05. > :32:10.elder brother although I can't believe it myself, but he will look

:32:11. > :32:16.at him. Duncan Weir is on. Finn Russell took a bad knock from Zander

:32:17. > :32:21.Fagerson. That's why he wears the headband. Understandable, sensible.

:32:22. > :32:25.He has ten minutes to be assessed. A huge moment in the match. Five

:32:26. > :32:26.minutes gone in the second half. Ireland scrum dominant in the first

:32:27. > :32:45.half. Very interesting. Small disconnect

:32:46. > :32:49.from the way the Scottish front row is pushing and the Scottish second

:32:50. > :32:54.row is pushing. If you look, there's a slight angle between the two and

:32:55. > :32:56.that is causing them problems. Looking from on high, who better to

:32:57. > :33:01.look at things and Paul O'Connell? If we look at this, as it

:33:02. > :33:10.progresses... Got to be a strong connection

:33:11. > :33:16.between front and second row. Scotland have to be strong. A huge

:33:17. > :33:21.moment in the match. Much better. Deep into his own pack, Murray.

:33:22. > :33:26.Upholding at the back. Ireland not making ground at the moment, they

:33:27. > :33:31.have to go through the backs. Rolling forward, Henshaw. Murray is

:33:32. > :33:37.there. Advantage to Ireland. Penalty coming. Another offside. Kearney

:33:38. > :33:40.can't quite make his way to the corner. O'Brien.

:33:41. > :33:47.Ireland looking for the ideal start to the second half. CJ Stander still

:33:48. > :33:52.playing with this, penalty advantage. Murray to Jackson.

:33:53. > :33:57.Henschel spins and shakes off Huw Jones. Picked up by Captain Best.

:33:58. > :34:02.Rory Best within two metres Adam Marriott looking for it. Penalty

:34:03. > :34:07.advantage. He looks both ways. Stander is there. Murray again and

:34:08. > :34:15.for! Can't quite make it. The ball is held up. -- for the line. Penalty

:34:16. > :34:22.advantage but they go over for a try. Iain Henderson dives and

:34:23. > :34:26.schools. -- and scores. Ireland have a try to unite the second half and

:34:27. > :34:30.the comeback is on. They deserve that, they directed the first seven

:34:31. > :34:35.minutes of the second half, knocking on the door so many times. Held

:34:36. > :34:39.firm. Overlong but it was almost the weight of pressure. They got that

:34:40. > :34:44.close and suddenly Iain Henderson is very hard to stop. This is it, at

:34:45. > :34:47.the very end. Good position, you won't stop anyone of that weight

:34:48. > :34:53.coming in when you cannot get under him. Duncan Weir, a huge weight. But

:34:54. > :34:57.no way you will get down below Iain Henderson to stop that. When you get

:34:58. > :35:01.that close to the line, you can be fairly simple in the attack, you

:35:02. > :35:04.don't need the opposition to miss a tackle. All you need to do is make a

:35:05. > :35:09.meter, half a metre and keep accumulating until you get over the

:35:10. > :35:15.line. Paddy Jackson to add the extra two.

:35:16. > :35:23.No mistake, this time, from Jackson. Ireland with that 7-point boost at

:35:24. > :35:24.the start of the second half. We had a real game on our hands at

:35:25. > :35:37.Murrayfield. This isn't helped by the ruling

:35:38. > :35:41.whereby you have to have every part of your body, hands, feet, behind

:35:42. > :35:44.the line from the Scottish and they are really disciplined. Everything

:35:45. > :35:48.is behind the line. It makes it really hard to defend when the

:35:49. > :35:55.attack is just a half a metre away from the line. Duncan Weir is still

:35:56. > :36:01.on for that head injury assessment. Finn Russell. I saw John Barton

:36:02. > :36:05.speaking on as well. He has been outstanding so far, he must

:36:06. > :36:13.watching, 16 tackles. A big influence. -- Hamish Watson. He will

:36:14. > :36:18.be tired. Trying to make his way through. Devin Toner took him by the

:36:19. > :36:20.collar. Everyone is a little person to Devin Toner. Confirmation that

:36:21. > :36:35.Barclay is on. Jones. The ball is stripped away.

:36:36. > :36:42.Dunbar was very sharp to fall upon it. REFEREE: Use it. Ireland

:36:43. > :36:51.starting the more sure in the second half. Ryan Wilson.

:36:52. > :36:57.Just a bit of a thought from Laidlaw before giving it. Seymour. Not quite

:36:58. > :37:03.the same zip around Scotland at the moment.

:37:04. > :37:11.Laidlaw scoops it high. Not much ground on it. A wonderful take it

:37:12. > :37:20.was by Sean Maitland. Scotland make ten, 12 metres that way. The Grays

:37:21. > :37:26.in tandem again. Ritchie to Jonny Load your something again. Duncan

:37:27. > :37:30.Weir sees a bit of space behind Zebo. How is it waited? It's a way

:37:31. > :37:35.to do very well indeed. A beautiful kick by the replacement, Duncan

:37:36. > :37:39.Weir. Great kick and good to see Ireland doing a bit of that in the

:37:40. > :37:44.first half. This is a tough place to defend. A hard place to get out of.

:37:45. > :37:50.You've got to get the line-out call right, when the line-out, win it.

:37:51. > :37:54.That's what Duncan Weir does very well, game management is good and

:37:55. > :37:56.kicking outstanding. That was inch perfect. Finn Russell is just

:37:57. > :38:01.getting some treatment and he will get back. Duncan Weir has put

:38:02. > :38:05.Scotland in a great position. Rory Best once his man.

:38:06. > :38:14.Sophie down for Ireland. -- wants his man. -- safely down. They will

:38:15. > :38:18.try to march a few yards. Penalty, here. Certainly had the potential

:38:19. > :38:23.but it goes up from Murray. Out it goes.

:38:24. > :38:31.The value of that kick, the Scottish attack just outside the 22. You

:38:32. > :38:35.know, you pressure the Irish. REFEREE: Ten coming back. Thank you

:38:36. > :38:39.and good night to Duncan Weir for now. Possibly might return later on.

:38:40. > :38:44.Finn Russell has had a bit of a breather as well. After the

:38:45. > :38:48.assessment. A good cameo from Duncan Weir. But Russell is fine after the

:38:49. > :38:54.assessment. This was why he was off, a collision in the tackle. I watched

:38:55. > :38:57.Andrew. Look at him, he was going to the left. He went all the way to the

:38:58. > :39:01.end of the defensive line to catch his breath and get his senses so he

:39:02. > :39:08.wasn't going to be engaged in any more tackles. Fraud's line-out.

:39:09. > :39:12.Richie Gray gets it down to Laidlaw. Seymour trying to affect the choked

:39:13. > :39:16.tackle, holding up the man of Scotland get to ground. Wilson.

:39:17. > :39:17.Russell and oppression. Hogg frees himself, Stuart Hogg scuttling

:39:18. > :39:26.forward. Scotland is looking for a fourth

:39:27. > :39:31.try. Barclay lays it back. Richie Gray.

:39:32. > :39:35.Laidlaw crowded down the blindside. Russell trying to ease his way

:39:36. > :39:39.through. He gets it to Laidlaw. The ball goes to ground. Land. Jonny

:39:40. > :40:05.Gray comes in. REFEREE: Use it. Fraud set it back for Scotland. --

:40:06. > :40:10.Ford. A thoughtful attack. The phases are a bit slower. A bit

:40:11. > :40:12.steadier, a bit tighter. The forwards are doing their bit. Ross

:40:13. > :40:22.Ford. Towards the edge of the 22, Russell

:40:23. > :40:27.again. A show on Huw Jones but easily enough watched by Jackson and

:40:28. > :40:30.Henderson, the Ulster two. Scotland, plenty of ball, going through the

:40:31. > :40:38.phases, making a bit of ground. Laidlaw. Confusion. Henshaw was in

:40:39. > :40:41.there to strip it. Stander. Scotland have to rush back to defensive

:40:42. > :40:48.duties. Ireland have a chance to counter. It goes wide. Earls almost

:40:49. > :40:52.through. Looking for support. Boasting his way through the

:40:53. > :41:02.tackles. Deep into the Scottish half --

:41:03. > :41:12.ghosting. The ball of the man goes through. Stander is there to set it

:41:13. > :41:15.once more. McGrath tries to slap aside Jonny Gray.

:41:16. > :41:23.Jackson, once more. A loop around. Carried by Sean O'Brien. Sean

:41:24. > :41:29.O'Brien out into fresh air for a moment. Looking around. Ireland,

:41:30. > :41:32.again, threatening the 22. Wide. Earls. A step but no way around Sean

:41:33. > :41:41.Maitland. Earls trying to get it back, which

:41:42. > :41:46.he does. All the menace from Ireland and Ringrose.

:41:47. > :41:54.Still with the men in green. Heaslip once more. WHISTLE

:41:55. > :42:03.And the penalty decision. You could hear the cries of "Sir! Sur! "

:42:04. > :42:08.Penalty, this time. John Barclay got in there, I think it was.

:42:09. > :42:12.Outstanding. This is a different Ireland side in the second half.

:42:13. > :42:17.John Barclay, you can see, solid position, he's on it. Consistent

:42:18. > :42:22.refereeing because a similar one to Sean O'Brien's in the first half.

:42:23. > :42:27.What a different side we have here. Earls has been on the ball, Sean

:42:28. > :42:31.O'Brien has been on the ball. At half-time they have reacted well and

:42:32. > :42:36.that is what good-sized do. They win on the gain line better, big carries

:42:37. > :42:39.generating some big ball. That's what Ireland have done. They play

:42:40. > :42:44.amazing rugby but they generate big ball and you can play with how you

:42:45. > :42:50.like. Gordon Reid is on in the Scottish front row for Allan Dell.

:42:51. > :42:52.It's been a hard afternoon for Dell. There is Gordon

:42:53. > :42:59.. For the last Scottish attack, you saw that the first half, everything

:43:00. > :43:02.touched to gold. They didn't have to go through many phases because they

:43:03. > :43:07.were so effective in what they were doing. When Ireland's defence was

:43:08. > :43:10.good and Scotland's attack not quite there, they tried things. When they

:43:11. > :43:14.did that, the off-load to Tommy Seymour was knocked down at the

:43:15. > :43:18.turnover happened. Amazing, completely contrasting second half

:43:19. > :43:21.to what we saw in the first half. High clearing kick from Finn

:43:22. > :43:26.Russell, you could see it hanging in the breeze. Not too much ground

:43:27. > :43:28.made. A good and dry conditions now in the air. Underfoot it's still a

:43:29. > :43:36.bit slippery. A very different proposition, this

:43:37. > :43:39.second half. Ireland also making a change.

:43:40. > :43:43.Cian Healy comes on. What a man to have in reserve, at loosehead for

:43:44. > :43:49.Jack McGrath. Barclay for Scotland. Scotland's try to get some forward

:43:50. > :44:09.momentum. Russell. Ireland will try to hold them up.

:44:10. > :44:15.But weighty blue shirts come in behind. A carried by Ross Ford.

:44:16. > :44:22.Scotland creeping towards the Irish half. Fagerson. REFEREE: Tackle!

:44:23. > :44:34.Russell. Such a familiar move, try to keep

:44:35. > :44:35.the man in the air. Russell. Chip charge. A chance for Murray if it

:44:36. > :44:45.bounces. Zebo outside but inside it goes.

:44:46. > :44:46.Heaslip for the line. Those only to Maitland, who appeared to save

:44:47. > :44:55.Scotland. Now, Scotland with a clearing kick

:44:56. > :45:00.from Russell, under all sorts of pressure on the Scotland line. If

:45:01. > :45:08.you looked, with Marion's charged down as if it might end in a trifle

:45:09. > :45:11.Heaslip -- Murray's charge down. It was a mistake as if he went to

:45:12. > :45:15.ground and regenerated the ball it would have been a try to Ireland. It

:45:16. > :45:18.was a great read of the ball by Maitland, good defence to work

:45:19. > :45:21.straight back like that and not panic bust you could see he always

:45:22. > :45:24.wanted to off-load the ball to Henshaw but you could take the

:45:25. > :45:33.tackle. At that stage, Maitland it well. Start the potential try

:45:34. > :45:36.happening. -- Maitland read it well. The sound of Murrayfield again and

:45:37. > :45:40.the pressure on Heaslip at the line but Ireland's ball. Zebo.

:45:41. > :46:07.Cian Healy taking it in. Onto the try scorer Conor Henderson.

:46:08. > :46:17.A mixture of cries for Scotland and Ireland. The handoff comes in for

:46:18. > :46:24.Henshaw. The Scottish tackle flying off. Kearney! Kearney borderline!

:46:25. > :46:29.Maitland again the saviour! Thwarted by the score but it had to be the

:46:30. > :46:34.tackle from Maitland. Did he get his man into touch? Again, for the TMO?

:46:35. > :46:39.REFEREE: Any reason I can't award this try? Just check number 15. If

:46:40. > :46:44.he was out of the field when he passed the ball before the

:46:45. > :46:49.grounding, please. Yes, thank you. The TMO is Glenn Newman. Kearney

:46:50. > :46:53.thought he was out. Such a good run down the line. But Maitland, did he

:46:54. > :46:59.save Scotland once more? It looked like a great tackle from here. Jumps

:47:00. > :47:08.into him a wee bit. Is that foot in? Yes, there. But just. Only just!

:47:09. > :47:16.That's great work by Kearney. And then obviously, by Maitland. Great

:47:17. > :47:22.play by Kearney. He was an amazing goal-scorer in 2009. REFEREE: A

:47:23. > :47:25.decision? The player was in touch, line-out, Scotland ball. REFEREE:

:47:26. > :47:29.Thank you very much. Scotland line-out, it is that close to the

:47:30. > :47:33.Scottish line-out. All Irish pressure. That 6-point lead is

:47:34. > :47:37.looking very fragile. Typical line-out. Six points ahead, line-out

:47:38. > :47:41.caller, five metres from your line, a nervous line at -- difficult

:47:42. > :47:47.line-out. They aren't to back. Ford goes long. Straight enough says the

:47:48. > :47:56.referee. Richie Gray was at the back. REFEREE: Use it, blue!

:47:57. > :48:00.Scotland trying to get a few yards further upfield. It's a long way

:48:01. > :48:13.into the wind for a clearing kick. He's dug that out pretty well. Can

:48:14. > :48:17.he get Scotland out of the 22? Ireland will have another

:48:18. > :48:21.opportunity. Sean Maitland, two efforts in the last five minutes.

:48:22. > :48:26.Picked on the wing to score tries but my goodness, what an impact he's

:48:27. > :48:30.had. Two defensive effort, one when he read Jamie Heaslip what he was

:48:31. > :48:34.doing and then a try saver with Rob Kearney. These are the big

:48:35. > :48:38.differences in games like this. Mark Bennett is coming on for Scotland.

:48:39. > :48:41.He's coming on for Huw Jones. The action areas in the second half

:48:42. > :48:47.pretty much tells us, the descending staircase down to the Irish 22. It's

:48:48. > :48:52.all happened in Scotland's half, really. Huw Jones. We expected the

:48:53. > :48:57.miracles that we saw in November. But Mark Bennett, again, useful

:48:58. > :49:00.player to come on in midfield. It highlights Scotland's strength. He

:49:01. > :49:07.lit up the autumn. Mark Bennett has been pulling up trees for Glasgow in

:49:08. > :49:10.the last few weeks. He's in a very familiar role with Finn Russell.

:49:11. > :49:14.Alex Dunbar in the midfield as well. Line-out ball works for Ireland.

:49:15. > :49:18.Henshaw. Henshaw still going. That powerful inside centre. It goes to

:49:19. > :49:36.Devin Toner. Stander. Ireland with Tadhg Furlong, he

:49:37. > :49:43.wanted to see what he could do to defend those in November. Very

:49:44. > :49:44.powerful man. So is Stander. Set it back. Rory Best. Into the final

:49:45. > :50:10.quarter of this match. Stander, one small -- once more.

:50:11. > :50:14.O'Brien. Scotland's defence, again, punching Ireland back. Heaslip wins

:50:15. > :50:23.that contest. Still, the legs drive island on bomb

:50:24. > :50:33.into the 22, again. Cian Healy, this time -- drives Ireland onto the 22.

:50:34. > :50:39.Kearney. Jonny Gray gets to him. Toner stoops down to take that one

:50:40. > :50:48.and feeds Stander. 13 phases. Ireland creeping on again. O'Brien.

:50:49. > :50:54.Murray to Jackson. Ringrose. Up to within ten metres. Murray, again.

:50:55. > :50:58.Jackson is through! Jackson stretches to score. What a try from

:50:59. > :51:04.Ireland! They built and built. They have the try. And the conversion

:51:05. > :51:07.will give them the lead. Super try from Ireland, not a lot of deception

:51:08. > :51:11.to what they are doing at the moment. They are winning the muscle,

:51:12. > :51:17.they are winning the battle up front. A bit show- go from Ringrose

:51:18. > :51:21.got him over the line and then a great line from Paddy Jackson. One

:51:22. > :51:31.. Excellent line-out. A good finish, he did well to finish it. It's a

:51:32. > :51:34.great angle. What that did, just able to benefit from some tired

:51:35. > :51:36.Scottish defence. No wonder, they've had to defend pretty much for the

:51:37. > :51:43.whole second half, 22 minutes. We spoke about the quality of

:51:44. > :51:49.Scotland's tackling in the first half. That has fallen off. I know

:51:50. > :51:52.they put Ireland back a bit there, but they are falling off some

:51:53. > :51:58.tackles. There's a lot more bite to what Ireland are doing. Jackson

:51:59. > :52:06.converts his try to put Ireland in front. The comeback, for the moment,

:52:07. > :52:11.is complete. Again, on the evidence of the second half, no less than

:52:12. > :52:14.Ireland deserve. Scotland 21-5 up we thought it was a long way back for

:52:15. > :52:18.Ireland but they just upped their game in every aspect. No doubt, the

:52:19. > :52:22.second half Ireland have upped their game. Scotland are falling off

:52:23. > :52:26.tackles, lost speed and bite, they need to get it back in the last 70

:52:27. > :52:34.minutes to try to get this victory. -- last 17. Iain Henderson off for

:52:35. > :52:41.Ireland. You can see him in the scrum cap beyond Rory Best. Old hand

:52:42. > :52:49.. Taken well. Trying to hold them up. Looking to get the ball to

:52:50. > :52:58.ground but it comes to devil Toner's giant hands. A chance to clear the

:52:59. > :53:03.lines. Jackson. Maitland waits. Trying to chase down his own kick.

:53:04. > :53:07.Kearney takes it. Almost stripped of the ball but gets it back. Ireland

:53:08. > :53:11.once more with possession. Tadhg Furlong.

:53:12. > :53:21.Murray. Box-kick away. Ireland coming forward but it was into his

:53:22. > :53:24.own mind and Ireland with another opportunity. Bennett got a hand on

:53:25. > :53:29.and Ireland complaint, deliberate knock-on. But it was Ireland's poll

:53:30. > :53:33.anyway. Heaslip. -- Ireland complained. Going forward, Ireland.

:53:34. > :53:41.Stander sets it back. There is Furlong again. A bit of

:53:42. > :54:03.space developing out wide. Henshaw. The ball booted back. The referee

:54:04. > :54:07.says it's fine. Laidlaw gets a chance to play. Nobody back there at

:54:08. > :54:12.the moment for Ireland. Zebo and eight I is looking Maitland trudging

:54:13. > :54:16.forward. -- a tired looking Maitland. The ball was touched in

:54:17. > :54:21.flight it will be island's ball at the line-out. A lots to look at from

:54:22. > :54:25.the last passage of play -- Ireland's ball. They were thinking

:54:26. > :54:28.he was offside but there was no rock, there was a tackle. Edwards

:54:29. > :54:35.calling a penalty but ran into Ryan Wilson. It wasn't Robbie Henshaw

:54:36. > :54:40.that affected the upending. It was Ryan Wilson. Zebo... These last few

:54:41. > :54:45.minutes and sums up the game. Breathless. Both sides really

:54:46. > :54:47.attacking and defending end. To end stuff. Physical. It had everything.

:54:48. > :54:57.-- end to end stuff. Another change about to be...

:54:58. > :55:05.Enacted. Tim Swinson is going to come on in the second row. REFEREE:

:55:06. > :55:10.Green, 11. Seven. Actually, he's going to come on... There's an Irish

:55:11. > :55:15.change as well. Josh van der Flier coming on. Swinson will go on into

:55:16. > :55:21.the back row but he can't play... WHISTLE

:55:22. > :55:24.There is Sean O'Brien. A very effective game from O'Brien and his

:55:25. > :55:31.latest comeback from injury. To the line-out we go. Devin Toner takes it

:55:32. > :55:35.for island. The line-out has looked solid for Ireland in the second-half

:55:36. > :55:40.-- takes for Ireland. Into the final 15 minutes.

:55:41. > :55:46.Scotland have to find some of that verve they had in the first half.

:55:47. > :55:53.Ireland have worked their way back in so well. Best.

:55:54. > :56:01.REFEREE: Six away, no! Thank you. You are just in front. Murray gets a

:56:02. > :56:07.kick away in front. A wonderful take by Finn Russell but strips. Laidlaw

:56:08. > :56:11.hurls himself upon the fire half. Ireland with ball again -- upon the

:56:12. > :56:15.fly half. Taken by Finn Russell almost in midair.

:56:16. > :56:24.REFEREE: Off, feet, off, feet! Second time. Henshaw gives it on to

:56:25. > :56:29.Jackson. How well he's played, Jackson. A bit of a poke forward.

:56:30. > :56:35.Hogg watches. Nothing to be done but taken into touch by Earls. Ireland

:56:36. > :56:37.playing so strong. So much talk about sex and missing but Paddy

:56:38. > :56:42.Jackson has been inspirational in the second half. -- about Sexton

:56:43. > :56:45.missing. Great to keep it in play. So that girls could make the tackle

:56:46. > :56:51.and put him into touch. It is Ireland line-out will stop -- so

:56:52. > :56:54.that Earls could make the tackle. They tried to play a novel lot of

:56:55. > :57:00.game with ball in hand but didn't push it into corners like that. --

:57:01. > :57:02.an awful lot of game with ball in hand. They had been so good in the

:57:03. > :57:11.second-half,. WHISTLE This could be the game. 1-point

:57:12. > :57:15.lead, if Ireland take this over, Scotland have had nothing in the

:57:16. > :57:19.second half. It is hard to stop this. They need to defend this

:57:20. > :57:24.line-out and not let Ireland get any further away. Earls coming off and

:57:25. > :57:32.Tommy Bowe on for Ireland. To earn his 68th cap. Ireland long from

:57:33. > :57:38.Best. Toner taken and then fed on to Ultan Dillane. Swinson falls upon

:57:39. > :57:44.it. Scotland... We'll have a scrum if they wanted. I'm not sure if they

:57:45. > :57:47.do want that. -- Scotland will have. Maitland. Deep inside their own 22.

:57:48. > :57:54.Good work from Maitland from a dangerous position.

:57:55. > :58:01.Again, the clearance. This time from Hogg. This one being watched and

:58:02. > :58:09.taken by Tommy Bowe. First touch for the Ulsterman.

:58:10. > :58:24.Furlong. One -- once more. Ringrose had a look around from Jackson.

:58:25. > :58:29.Space appears. A loose pass from Kearney. A rare mistake.

:58:30. > :58:39.Offering the option to Laidlaw. Scrum and line-out. All day long and

:58:40. > :58:44.twice on Sunday! This is the line they had to defend. Watch John

:58:45. > :58:48.Barclay defend this very, very well. It gets in there. He disrupts this.

:58:49. > :58:52.Made a good decision. Wasn't offside. That's exactly what needed

:58:53. > :58:56.to happen. Once the line-out goes over the 15, the line-out is over.

:58:57. > :59:00.He is thinking a bit faster than everybody else. Great play by him,

:59:01. > :59:04.massive turnover to get possession. Seven metres from your line.

:59:05. > :59:12.There's been such a great success at Scarlett 's. Heading down there.

:59:13. > :59:15.Perhaps been overlooked in the international wilderness a bit.

:59:16. > :59:25.Jonny Gray is tackling back. That's unbelievable. Northern Irish player.

:59:26. > :59:34.Hamish Watson went off after 50 minutes and made 16 pretty much in

:59:35. > :59:39.the first half. A huge defensive effort required. They are only one

:59:40. > :59:42.points down. The attack was so good in the first half, that defensive

:59:43. > :59:46.effort has allowed them to still be in this game with 11 minutes to go.

:59:47. > :59:49.How much has it taken out of them, that's the problem. Maybe those

:59:50. > :59:52.numbers are the reasons we are seeing them falling off tackles. But

:59:53. > :59:56.to see Raphael Varane tears watching the game. -- it is good to see

:59:57. > :00:05.Raphael Varane . Big fan of Scottish rugby,

:00:06. > :00:10.wouldn't miss this game. Needing the final ten minutes. Tadhg Furlong off

:00:11. > :00:14.and Ryan is on, impressive for Munster this season.

:00:15. > :00:24.Once more, Scotland on the back foot.

:00:25. > :00:35.Ireland very much in control. Zebo spinning away.

:00:36. > :00:50.Henshaw is flung to the turf by Ford. Cian Healy. Still all Ireland

:00:51. > :00:52.in the middle. The dummy runner, the Murrayfield crowd cries obstruction.

:00:53. > :01:08.The penalty to Scotland. Here we are, guys. Ten minutes to

:01:09. > :01:13.go, one point ball game, we thought it would be tight, maybe not in the

:01:14. > :01:16.circumstances the way the game has panned out, Scotland getting bullied

:01:17. > :01:22.and Ireland coming back. Ten minutes to go, Greig Laidlaw needs to get

:01:23. > :01:27.the guys together like he is doing now, getting the players together

:01:28. > :01:32.and saying, "One bit of inspiration, one big hit, one good angle could be

:01:33. > :01:36.the difference." That is all that is required now. It doesn't need to be

:01:37. > :01:40.spectacular at the line-out, doesn't need to be over the 15 like Ireland

:01:41. > :01:45.did, the main thing they need is possession.

:01:46. > :01:59.Scotland right on the Irish 22. A single point in it. Taken eventually

:02:00. > :02:08.by Barclays for Scotland. -- Barclay. Probably too long to go on

:02:09. > :02:14.the clock to think penalties or drop goals, a long way to go in this

:02:15. > :02:27.match. Ford carrying foot Scotland, Swinson, and onto Fagerson. Now

:02:28. > :02:34.Russell. The clash from Bennett, struggling to get the ball back, and

:02:35. > :02:41.now he does. Tense times for both sides as Barclay takes it in.

:02:42. > :02:44.Penalty to Scotland with eight minutes to go, and a reasonably

:02:45. > :02:50.straightforward kick for Greig Laidlaw. I was literally just

:02:51. > :03:00.thinking to myself how good the discipline in defence has been from

:03:01. > :03:04.Ireland has been today. It could be crucial. They have an opportunity.

:03:05. > :03:11.They looked in control in defence but they have given away a penalty.

:03:12. > :03:20.Vern Cotter, a few instructions passed down from on high.

:03:21. > :03:27.It's very difficult to get out of there, very difficult to get out of

:03:28. > :03:31.there. But you have two. This is the difference, Ireland had their

:03:32. > :03:35.opportunity seven metres away two minutes ago and came away with zero

:03:36. > :03:38.points. Murrayfield will fall silent now for Greig Laidlaw, three from

:03:39. > :03:54.three so far. Through it goes and seven minutes

:03:55. > :03:59.and perhaps a little bit more remaining at Murrayfield and

:04:00. > :04:02.Scotland lead once again. Those will be a very long seven minutes for

:04:03. > :04:08.those Scottish fans. Very much against the run of play. They have

:04:09. > :04:13.kept themselves in it with their defence. Now the restart is so

:04:14. > :04:14.important and Barclay takes it in a bit of room. He's been strong since

:04:15. > :04:26.he came on. Gray, Jonny Gray gets to ground. So

:04:27. > :04:32.Ireland into the territory of looking for any sort of penalty or

:04:33. > :04:44.drop goal attempt. They need that ball first. The clearing kick from

:04:45. > :04:49.Hogg. Jackson. And Kearney. Claimed by his opposite number Hogg, Irish

:04:50. > :05:01.ball again. Zebo. There is Josh Van der Flier. The tackle comes in from

:05:02. > :05:08.Fagerson on Cian Healy. And Ireland again on the front foot, now through

:05:09. > :05:16.John Ryan, Jackson, inside ball to Zebo.

:05:17. > :05:22.Stander. Scotland turn it over and have a chance to counter, Laidlaw

:05:23. > :05:32.decides to put boot on ball, and reading it well was Kearney. He got

:05:33. > :05:36.back in time. Now altered Heaslip. -- on to Heaslip. Some tired looking

:05:37. > :05:45.men out there heading into the last five minutes. Rory Best. Murray to

:05:46. > :05:49.Toner, Toner with a loose one and Barclay trying to get up there,

:05:50. > :05:57.Henshaw evades the tackle and does well.

:05:58. > :06:11.Stander once again. Five minutes on the clock. So, Conor Murray sends it

:06:12. > :06:15.to the heavens, taken by Hogg, Hogg sees what is available, Hogg looking

:06:16. > :06:19.for a run himself onto Bennett, Bennett chips and the chase is on,

:06:20. > :06:24.sitting up for Conor Murray, the scrum-half is under pressure, being

:06:25. > :06:28.watched by Bennett, gives it onto Zebo and he fires it down the line,

:06:29. > :06:34.great kick from Zebo. He had no angle to go for touch, Hogg again,

:06:35. > :06:44.Murrayfield is roaring, lives it up to Zebo who was hit hard by Henshaw.

:06:45. > :06:57.Fagerson tries to get it to ground and just falls. Listen to the crowd

:06:58. > :07:06.now as Wilson carries. Jonny Gray. And beyond now to four

:07:07. > :07:10.minutes, Ireland looking for something. But still Scotland and

:07:11. > :07:15.Richie Gray, and onto Finn Russell, space out wide, delaying the pass,

:07:16. > :07:18.stepping to Dunbar, Dunbar taking him around the neck and the penalty

:07:19. > :07:25.is coming but it is still there for Scotland. Spilled by Barclay,

:07:26. > :07:33.Barclay will come back for that penalty. I love the ambition from

:07:34. > :07:40.Scotland. Let's see what they are saying. Just a penalty, I think, is

:07:41. > :07:46.the instruction. I'd like to see this again because we know the

:07:47. > :07:53.directives, any time it is a high tackle you immediately think yellow.

:07:54. > :07:57.I love the fact they still have ambition. It started low and it has

:07:58. > :08:07.gone up. As Wayne Barnes said before the game, is it high? I don't think

:08:08. > :08:15.there is any force or any speed in that. It is still poor. Putting

:08:16. > :08:19.themselves under pressure now, Ireland, they will probably have to

:08:20. > :08:23.defend a five metre line-out, it is a long way to get back up the pitch.

:08:24. > :08:27.If you're wondering what the difference is, a reckless tackle

:08:28. > :08:30.would have been a yellow card, that was more of an accidental tackle

:08:31. > :08:34.deemed to be below the line and moved up onto the neck and that can

:08:35. > :08:43.be sanctioned, but no yellow card in this instance. I think that was

:08:44. > :08:46.borderline in every sense. The decision from Scotland was not to

:08:47. > :08:52.take the three points that could have moved them beyond a penalty

:08:53. > :08:57.clear, or a drop kick clear, and go for the corner. Huge decision. It is

:08:58. > :09:00.a good decision, I think, three minutes left on the clock, five

:09:01. > :09:03.metres out, great kick to the corner, didn't leave them eight

:09:04. > :09:08.metres out, five metres, exactly where they want to be, a long way

:09:09. > :09:20.for Ireland up the field. Under pressure but the safe man, deciding

:09:21. > :09:22.to defender driving maul. There is a deep guttural cry from the

:09:23. > :09:29.Murrayfield crowd to keep this going. Romain Poite. Scotland

:09:30. > :09:41.looking for their first opening weekend when sins against France in

:09:42. > :09:46.2006. -- since. Still with Scotland, looking to close down the game. They

:09:47. > :09:53.would love a try. The bonus point is perhaps for another day. They need

:09:54. > :09:59.victory. Ryan Wilson carries. Still there for Scotland. Two minutes to

:10:00. > :10:08.go. It is just the forwards at close quarters carrying. Fancy rugby has

:10:09. > :10:15.gone for Scotland now. It's all about safe, sensible, clinical

:10:16. > :10:18.stuff. Taken in by Ross Ford. Two minutes is a long time to run the

:10:19. > :10:26.game out like this. There is always a penalty, always a long way to

:10:27. > :10:30.close the game off. Now overcarry by Swinson, makes some good ground. The

:10:31. > :10:38.ball is still there for Scotland. Penalty to Scotland as well.

:10:39. > :10:43.Ireland's chances slipping away here. You suspect with just over a

:10:44. > :10:50.minute gone that it may be done for the visitors. You would expect the

:10:51. > :10:58.penalty have gone the other way of defeat in Iraq, hands in the ruck,

:10:59. > :11:06.but it shows the knowledge -- in the ruck. This is a good call. They let

:11:07. > :11:12.the clock get over 79 minutes, so now if Greig Laidlaw goes for goal

:11:13. > :11:18.and misses it and it goes dead it is game over and Scotland still win.

:11:19. > :11:23.Greig Laidlaw could effectively put it into the stands. It was a poor

:11:24. > :11:29.attempt, I will grant you. He is allowed a minute to take it. It is

:11:30. > :11:33.game over. Whatever he does now he is absolutely going to hit the

:11:34. > :11:37.leather of the ball. Man of the match quickly before this kick?

:11:38. > :11:41.There have been so many good players for me but he lit up the first half,

:11:42. > :11:46.quiet second-half, but my obvious Six Nations man of the match is

:11:47. > :11:50.Stuart Hogg. Stuart Hogg, the man of the match and man of the moment,

:11:51. > :11:53.Greig Laidlaw, to the strains of Flower Of Scotland, with this final

:11:54. > :12:05.kick. It is good from Greig Laidlaw, it is

:12:06. > :12:10.great from Scotland because they have won, they have beaten Ireland

:12:11. > :12:17.in the opening match of this RBS Six Nations and the celebrations, not

:12:18. > :12:22.just for this win, but for many, many years of hard graft for

:12:23. > :12:25.Scotland and disappointment. It is all celebration for Scotland. Deep

:12:26. > :12:32.disappointment for Ireland but this is Vern Cotter's moment and these

:12:33. > :12:35.are Scotland's moments. Fantastic victory, the penalty from the

:12:36. > :12:38.captain Greig Laidlaw, he knew he had nailed it, look at that,

:12:39. > :12:42.fantastic moment from Greig Laidlaw but what an effort by the whole

:12:43. > :12:45.Scotland team because what an attacking performance in the first

:12:46. > :12:49.half and defensive effort in the second half that allowed them to win

:12:50. > :12:52.this game. That was Ireland's game for the taking in the second half

:12:53. > :12:56.because they were so dominant. They gave themselves a massive mountain

:12:57. > :13:00.to climb, conceding three tries inside of half an hour, but fair

:13:01. > :13:04.play to them, they go back into the game. The inaccuracies that were

:13:05. > :13:08.there in the first half crept back in towards the end of the game. We

:13:09. > :13:15.don't associate that with the Irish team, we associate them with a hack

:13:16. > :13:18.you, highly accurate line-out, with ball in hand, and it's an easy fix

:13:19. > :13:24.for Ireland but great result for Scotland. All of the talk will be

:13:25. > :13:29.about how many Scottish Lions we are going to have. These games can flip

:13:30. > :13:33.very quickly. What you don't often see is the momentum shift as you saw

:13:34. > :13:36.in the last ten minutes. I thought Ireland had got the momentum and

:13:37. > :13:40.were just going to sweep through the rest of the second half and win the

:13:41. > :13:44.game, so fair play to Scotland to stop the momentum, turn it around

:13:45. > :13:48.and come down and get two penalties and win the game. I wonder why John

:13:49. > :13:52.Barclay wasn't fitted a Betfair play-off the bench, that turnover,

:13:53. > :13:54.seven metres from the Irish line where he thought a bit quicker than

:13:55. > :14:03.everyone else made a massive difference to the Scottish effort,

:14:04. > :14:06.conceded a penalty and it was game over. Ireland go to Rome next

:14:07. > :14:10.weekend and Scotland are in Paris, promising Six Nations start for

:14:11. > :14:14.Scotland at the end of a very long winter. Two tries in the first half

:14:15. > :14:20.from Stuart Hogg sent Scotland on their way to victory, the man of the

:14:21. > :14:25.match is talking to Sonia. Do you think that's the best opening match

:14:26. > :14:28.of the Six Nations? It was a cracking game we switched off a wee

:14:29. > :14:32.bit at the start of the second-half but the boys are delighted to kick

:14:33. > :14:37.off the Six Nations with a wink and there is no better place to do it

:14:38. > :14:43.than Murrayfield. 17 points, having built such a strong lead, what were

:14:44. > :14:46.you thinking? I've no idea, the boys were outstanding in the second-half.

:14:47. > :14:50.Defensively we had to be on the money all the time and the boys were

:14:51. > :14:55.delighted to come away with that one. Scotland's leading try scorer

:14:56. > :14:59.in the Six Nations championship with two today. Did you ever believe that

:15:00. > :15:03.accolade would come your way? I was putting very good possessions by my

:15:04. > :15:07.team and it was just a case of finishing off. Down to the boys

:15:08. > :15:11.upfront giving us a good platform and the excellent backs out wide, in

:15:12. > :15:16.the right place at the right time. You are being very modest, you are

:15:17. > :15:18.the RBS Six Nations man of the match, well done. Thanks very much.

:15:19. > :15:27.CHEERING A famous afternoon for a famous old

:15:28. > :15:33.stadium, as you look at the statistics and I will give you

:15:34. > :15:39.another one, Scotland warily in the Irish 22 47% of whole second-half --

:15:40. > :15:43.were only in. In the course of the second half we were going through

:15:44. > :15:46.the stats about what is the record for the most points that people led

:15:47. > :15:50.by and then lost but it didn't happen in the end. Let's hear from

:15:51. > :15:54.the Irish captain. Rory, a penny for your thoughts,

:15:55. > :16:01.because you seemed to have all of that momentum in the second half.

:16:02. > :16:05.The way we started the game cost us, we knew they were a quality outfit

:16:06. > :16:07.and they started the game as we thought they would with lots of

:16:08. > :16:11.emotion and momentum and we were not good enough to stop it. I think we

:16:12. > :16:15.fought back really well to get back into the lead in the second-half.

:16:16. > :16:20.Ultimately, in a game the Six Nations away from home if you start

:16:21. > :16:25.with a gap you are always going to get against it and it proved the

:16:26. > :16:28.case. Why did you get off to a slow start? We have got to give credit to

:16:29. > :16:31.them, they came out of the box really well and we made a few

:16:32. > :16:34.uncharacteristic errors and didn't execute the way we wanted to and

:16:35. > :16:38.probably were not good enough with a couple of line-outs. We had

:16:39. > :16:42.opportunities to get hold of the game early on and didn't take them

:16:43. > :16:46.and they did and they created a couple of chances and scored. Seemed

:16:47. > :16:50.to be every time they got the ball at one point. It was frustrating and

:16:51. > :16:53.the second-half was a lot more like it but we are hugely disappointed

:16:54. > :16:59.that when we took the lead we did not close it out. Well done today.

:17:00. > :17:05.For what it's worth, there is the first table of the RBS Six Nations

:17:06. > :17:08.in 2017. What it is worth is that is a bit of history, there is a losing

:17:09. > :17:14.bonus point for the first time in the history of the RBS Six Nations.

:17:15. > :17:19.Just what I've always wanted! Let's go back to Sonia. That's the first

:17:20. > :17:21.time since 2006 you've won your opening match in the Six Nations

:17:22. > :17:28.championship. What does that mean to you and your

:17:29. > :17:30.team? You can hear what it means to everybody.

:17:31. > :17:33.CHEERING To get the win with everybody

:17:34. > :17:39.singing the national anthem is what it is all about. Vern Cotter told us

:17:40. > :17:42.we are going to win it because we are bloody-minded and we have done

:17:43. > :17:46.it today. You struggled to close out a big game against Australia in the

:17:47. > :17:49.autumn. How far has the Scotland team come that you managed to do it

:17:50. > :17:52.today? We have come on leaps and bounds we in and week out and we

:17:53. > :17:56.played well against Australia in November and Argentina we got the

:17:57. > :18:02.win and we are over the Moon today with this result. Coach Vern Cotter

:18:03. > :18:05.said he was targeting two wins in the Six Nations championship. You

:18:06. > :18:10.have just rolled over Ireland. Are you going to revise that now? Just

:18:11. > :18:14.listen to Vern Cotter and whatever he says goes. Well done. Thank you

:18:15. > :18:22.very much. Well, the price of those Island-

:18:23. > :18:26.England grandson tickets in Dublin have suddenly plummeted -- Ireland.

:18:27. > :18:32.The Scottish Grand Slam is on. What an opening game of the RBS Six

:18:33. > :18:35.Nations this year and it had everything, Scotland off to a great

:18:36. > :18:39.start, what a comeback by Ireland in the second half, and the courage of

:18:40. > :18:42.Scotland to come out and win with six tries, huge out of effort from

:18:43. > :18:48.both sides and it's great to see Greig Laidlaw and Stuart Hogg

:18:49. > :18:50.engaging with the fans, listen to the reception. Scotland go to France

:18:51. > :18:54.next weekend but for now we talk about this game because it was a

:18:55. > :18:58.cracker. How often have we been in Murrayfield and had to complain

:18:59. > :19:01.about Scotland not taking their chances? Today, for 80 minutes,

:19:02. > :19:08.whenever they got a chance they scored. That is incredible accuracy.

:19:09. > :19:11.They made twice as many tackles as Ireland and kept composure until the

:19:12. > :19:17.end, none more so than the captain. Every time you push the ball down

:19:18. > :19:21.you think it will sail between the posts. That's the point you made,

:19:22. > :19:24.everybody said it would be a tight match but goal-kicking, talk about

:19:25. > :19:27.all the fancy moves in the world and bonus points for tries but

:19:28. > :19:32.goal-kicking can be so fundamental. Greig Laidlaw, the man in the

:19:33. > :19:36.picture now, is absolutely metronomic clean reliable. He and

:19:37. > :19:44.Leigh Halfpenny are the best UK penalty kick is in the world. They

:19:45. > :19:52.are in the mid-80s. He is overjoyed, as is the team and the Scottish

:19:53. > :19:55.supporters. They have won a game that is so important for the first

:19:56. > :19:59.time in ten years, to win the opening game, it is money mental for

:20:00. > :20:03.Scotland. The expectation is high and now they are on the road to

:20:04. > :20:08.possibly winning something really concrete. I always think when you

:20:09. > :20:13.look at Laidlaw he always grumpy. Well, you play rugby to win, he's

:20:14. > :20:16.winning and he has been smiling from the start, almost as if the whole

:20:17. > :20:20.team thought they had a really good chance today and they have backed it

:20:21. > :20:23.up to the end. We did say he looked very relaxed and full of himself

:20:24. > :20:26.before the game when he was introducing the team to Princess

:20:27. > :20:31.Anne and that was replicated on the field of play. Nobody epitomised

:20:32. > :20:34.that better than Stuart Hogg, talk about his two tries in the first

:20:35. > :20:38.half. Wiesberger that him and highlighted him before the game as

:20:39. > :20:42.well and he always delivers. This is after a good number of phases,

:20:43. > :20:45.Scotland keeping their width and patience, and they got fortunate

:20:46. > :20:49.with the long pass bouncing up into Stuart Hogg's hands but he has to be

:20:50. > :20:53.in the right position to score. Tommy Seymour was outside putting

:20:54. > :20:57.Garry Ringrose in a difficult place. This was his second try, look at

:20:58. > :21:04.Earls, doesn't know whether to come in all come out, Ireland's defence

:21:05. > :21:08.is narrow but Hogg in the outside channel and Hogg knows as soon as he

:21:09. > :21:11.has a defender turning his back he has the exploration to take the

:21:12. > :21:16.space. We love to see a try scorer like that, great ball, quick ball

:21:17. > :21:21.into the middle, and use the space, spot the space and run into it,

:21:22. > :21:25.beautiful. You were critical of certain areas of Ireland's play,

:21:26. > :21:28.especially in the first half. Talk through the try that Scotland scored

:21:29. > :21:34.from the line-out from the Irish perspective. Attitude wise I thought

:21:35. > :21:38.Ireland were off the pace, there is no attention, nobody looking, they

:21:39. > :21:42.are thinking, who can we number up beside and instead there is a centre

:21:43. > :21:45.standing three men in and nobody looking at him and where it is

:21:46. > :21:49.going, thinking maybe there is going to be a drive at the back of the

:21:50. > :21:52.line-out. Furlong was looking at the back of the line-out, his face was

:21:53. > :21:56.looking at the number eight rather than ahead of him. Best is looking

:21:57. > :21:59.the other way, that is OK but you have to take a quick glance to

:22:00. > :22:03.double-check that spaces in there. Great innovation from Scotland.

:22:04. > :22:07.Sometimes your brain just isn't up to speed and Ireland in that period

:22:08. > :22:12.of time were just off the mark. It's getting very loud here. I will

:22:13. > :22:16.correct that, it has got very loud here. In the second of Ireland had

:22:17. > :22:19.all of the possession. Looking at the little bored down here, 70%

:22:20. > :22:24.position in the second half, and for the period between 45 minutes and 70

:22:25. > :22:32.minutes you could almost see no way that Ireland wouldn't win the match,

:22:33. > :22:35.so how did they? -- didn't they? They played with intensity and

:22:36. > :22:40.played with full composure. They played far more direct and

:22:41. > :22:45.incredibly well. Three or four line breaks in the period of time that

:22:46. > :22:49.with no composure at that stage, intercepted and sloppy little pass,

:22:50. > :22:56.Sean O'Brien in here, great line, great run, look at Conor Murray, has

:22:57. > :22:59.to pop off and doesn't. With such fine margins, they were in such

:23:00. > :23:03.ascendancy, I don't even think they believed they were going to lose

:23:04. > :23:06.either. You have to take this chances in the championship. With

:23:07. > :23:09.momentum like this is the points have to go on Tillous-Borde and you

:23:10. > :23:16.must take advantage of the situation. Good press, Murray,

:23:17. > :23:18.should he give it to Zebo? Huge chance. But Ireland in the autumn

:23:19. > :23:22.would have had composure and patience and would have scored from

:23:23. > :23:25.these positions. They were a little bit rattled, which I wouldn't expect

:23:26. > :23:31.from an experienced side. Again, credit to Scotland holding out in

:23:32. > :23:36.this period of play, it won them the game, I feel. Even on this line,

:23:37. > :23:40.great play from Kearney, I thought Kearney had a right go at the game,

:23:41. > :23:45.one of the few Irish players who upped his leadership level to get

:23:46. > :23:49.his team to follow. Look at that, on such fine margins. Left cheek into

:23:50. > :23:52.touch. It is only the second time in the history of the Six Nations that

:23:53. > :24:00.Scotland have won their opening match. What a lift, you can hear it

:24:01. > :24:04.and feel it and sends what it means to the game, perhaps. It does. And a

:24:05. > :24:09.line that to how well Edinburgh and Glasgow do in European competition

:24:10. > :24:13.and Glasgow in the domestic competition, the last time was 2006

:24:14. > :24:17.against France and it was a Sunday and half full and two driving maul

:24:18. > :24:21.tries, and this is a completely different kettle of fish, great

:24:22. > :24:24.rugby, fantastic comeback from Ireland but Scotland must now look

:24:25. > :24:29.ahead to next week and build on that. Out next week pans out will

:24:30. > :24:33.depend largely on how France play against England at Twickenham later

:24:34. > :24:36.this afternoon. In your mind are you getting images of Gregor Townsend

:24:37. > :24:40.and Gavin Hastings and that famous victory all those years ago? A lot

:24:41. > :24:43.will depend on what happens at Twickenham, we have all played

:24:44. > :24:46.against France and they can be world beaters, or they could be flattered

:24:47. > :24:50.to deceive, so a lot will depend on the game later this evening. Here is

:24:51. > :24:57.a very happy man with Sonia. Sorry to keep you. Vern what does it

:24:58. > :24:59.say about how far your team has come that they were able to withstand

:25:00. > :25:02.that Irish onslaught in the second half?

:25:03. > :25:06.When there was one point in it towards the end I suppose everybody

:25:07. > :25:11.thought it was going to be another similar scenario. But the guys have

:25:12. > :25:15.learned and improved and we managed to claw our way back in at the end

:25:16. > :25:19.of there. I think it is a great win for them. I think it will validate a

:25:20. > :25:26.lot of the work they have been doing. I am just really happy. It is

:25:27. > :25:31.quite a nice feeling, to be honest. I can imagine it is. How big is this

:25:32. > :25:38.result for Scotland given a few close games have escaped them? Yeah,

:25:39. > :25:43.it has. Australia was another 1-point game and we sneaked through

:25:44. > :25:47.a game with Argentina. The players are genuinely finding ways to win

:25:48. > :25:51.games. I thought for a while we had found a way to get ourselves in

:25:52. > :25:54.trouble again for a while. We dominated the first half and I

:25:55. > :25:58.thought they dominated a large part of the second half. It just shows,

:25:59. > :26:04.there was composure at the end and we managed to get what we wanted. It

:26:05. > :26:08.has been a while since we have had a winning the first game of the Six

:26:09. > :26:12.Nations. I think that will create a real positive dynamic moving

:26:13. > :26:15.forward. There was a time when Scotland couldn't hit a barn door at

:26:16. > :26:19.five paces and couldn't score and there you are, three tries before

:26:20. > :26:22.half-time. You are living in dreamland. I suppose if you are

:26:23. > :26:25.going to be critical you'd want to get another couple in the second

:26:26. > :26:29.half so that is something we can look forward to and to move forward

:26:30. > :26:34.on when we come together early in the week. There was some good

:26:35. > :26:39.attacking play. My coaches are working hard and finding ways to

:26:40. > :26:42.improve players. I think it is a great team effort from everybody.

:26:43. > :26:47.You said before the championship you are targeting two wins, might you

:26:48. > :26:51.revise that now? Look, no, that is one, we are really happy, but I

:26:52. > :26:57.think the players will decide what they want to do from here on in. If

:26:58. > :26:59.we could get another one that would be great. Will you have a beer with

:27:00. > :27:06.Joe Schmidt because you finally got one over on him? Yeah, I might do, a

:27:07. > :27:10.quiet one. You are obviously very good friends. Let's bring the

:27:11. > :27:14.aforementioned Mr Joe Schmidt into proceedings here because he is just

:27:15. > :27:20.coming round the corner. Joe, come and join your old friend Vern

:27:21. > :27:24.Cotter. You can shake hands. He's finally got one over on you. What

:27:25. > :27:30.did Scotland get right today that Ireland didn't? They got a flying

:27:31. > :27:35.start, a really impressive start. Vern Cotter has obviously done some

:27:36. > :27:39.great work with them. Just a little line-out play. We were a little bit

:27:40. > :27:44.passive and naive, I think, and it was really disappointing but at the

:27:45. > :27:49.same time I felt we clawed our way back into the game and to get ahead

:27:50. > :27:53.at 22-21 and having couple of really good chances to put the game the way

:27:54. > :27:58.up the middle when Jamie Heaslip carried and down the wing when Rob

:27:59. > :28:01.Kearney carried we got very close to getting away on them but when you

:28:02. > :28:05.don't get away from a team playing at home and have so much to play for

:28:06. > :28:09.you are always at risk of them coming back and maybe getting

:28:10. > :28:13.something in the end. Thank you for your time, Joe. We are running out

:28:14. > :28:17.of it! One or two other things to tell you

:28:18. > :28:22.about, not least Six Nations Rugby special tomorrow at 6pm, 7pm in

:28:23. > :28:26.Scotland, the women's Six Nations round-up is at 10:45pm, first time

:28:27. > :28:29.out tomorrow night, and more matches to happen over the course of the

:28:30. > :28:35.weekend, not least England against France live on Radio 5 live at

:28:36. > :28:38.4:50pm. Listen to it on the radio while watching the doubles in the

:28:39. > :28:42.Davis Cup from Canada, it is 1-1 at the moment, Jamie Murray and Dom

:28:43. > :28:46.Inglot will be playing in that match. We have 30 seconds. Ten

:28:47. > :28:53.seconds on England against France, who will win? England at home, so

:28:54. > :28:57.strong at Twickenham. England. They are on a high at home and rarely

:28:58. > :29:03.lose at home. Wales against Italy tomorrow? It will be a big challenge

:29:04. > :29:10.for Wales, 13 versus fifth in the world but it will be a tough gig.

:29:11. > :29:13.Wales. I will go for the red of Wales. It is fair to say that in

:29:14. > :29:18.advance we all knew this was the game to beat at this weekend and it

:29:19. > :29:22.suddenly turned out that way. Has the bar ever been set that high for

:29:23. > :29:26.the opening match of a Six Nations championship? Thanks for watching

:29:27. > :29:39.and we will see you in Cardiff next weekend. Bye bye.

:29:40. > :29:53.# Here comes Johnny # Liquor and drugs

:29:54. > :30:01.# He's going to do another striptease

:30:02. > :30:07.# Well, I'm just a modern guy # Lust for life #

:30:08. > :30:15.COMMENTATOR: Jackson is through and stretches to score Scotland lead

:30:16. > :30:18.once again! Great from Scotland because they have won!