Scotland v Ireland Six Nations Rugby


Scotland v Ireland

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By trains, boats and planes, they've come from all over Ireland, buoyed

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by the autumn victory over the All Blacks and thinking this could be

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the year of a Grand Slam showdown against England in six weeks' time.

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Before that, their coach is having to take each game as it comes.

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Scotland- Ireland is the curtain raiser, keen to go out to lay down

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the standard for the rest to follow? Yes, I guess we are always keen, I

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know Scotland will be as well and I hope it does set a bit of a standard

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for the way the games are played. I know that both teams are looking

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forward to being as positive as they can, but I know conditions are

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tricky but we will play with positive endeavour. You have claimed

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some significant scouts in the last six months, not least New Zealand.

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Does that raise expectations that you must play like that over time?

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That is our hope. We may have caught New Zealand on a bit of an off day

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and if we Catchpole and on a really good day I don't think there is that

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much difference between the top eight teams. The margins are so

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small. We know they are going to be good today and for us Sarr

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expectation is that it's going to be an incredibly tough game and we have

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to be really on our mettle to win it. Will there be more pressure on

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Murray at scrum-half without Sexton? He has been really good and he is

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motivated for today like all of the players. We have confidence in Paddy

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Jackson and we have other guys who can kick the ball. Hopefully we can

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cover the bases with a fair bit of support for him and for Paddy. Paddy

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has started five of the last seven Test matches for us. Good luck

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today. Thanks. As we have mentioned a couple of times there will be a

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recurring subplot throughout the Six Nations about who might be going on

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the last tour in the summer. Sonia asked Joe Schmidt about Conor

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Murray. Amongst the list of people who are honours -- as good as on the

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plane it has to be Conor Murray. Hello, how are you doing? Great to

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see you. I'm good, thanks. Get out! Do you fill that rugby never stops,

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it's always the next big thing? Can you enjoy it? It's something I've

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consciously worked on in my mind to kind of correct, or try and enjoy

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things a little bit more because you see some players that I just

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shadowed by the pressure, or whatever. I just want to make sure I

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enjoyed it because hopefully on Saturday you run out on Murrayfield

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to a packed stadium. To not enjoy that is such a shame. Did you go a

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bit wild after Chicago? We had a few Guinness, which was great. Special

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day, special, special day. The week felt a bit weird from

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coming from Munster and Axel passing and to go straight into another camp

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and have that in your head was a bit weird but from the beginning of the

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game, the national anthems and the Haka and the emotion that built up

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in that game you realise when standing in the figure of eight you

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are hearing the crowd recognise what it was, there was a bit of a raw and

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it felt like a really powerful thing to do. The image was spine tingling.

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-- roar. To put in a performance like that was the best sporting

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

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that was my best performance in a green shirt. Nobody ever wants to

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say I'm great, and the best in the world, unless you are Muhammad Ali

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or someone like that but you are named in that fashion now. How do

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you deal with that? Axel used to say you are never as good as they say

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you are or as bad as they say you are so you have to find somewhere in

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the middle. To be mentioned like that is great, it means the hard

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work is being seen by people on the outside which is great. Maybe when

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I'm finished you can really look back and say that was a great day,

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that was a good few months of my career, I was in good form. But

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right now it is weak in and week out and trying to stay at the level. The

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perception I've always had a view is you are a reluctant leader, is that

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fair? Your personality comes out, at school my teacher said to me if you

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want to play scrum-half or in that area you will have to speak up and

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it's something I've definitely had to focus on and try and get better

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at, but at the same time don't try and change yourself. If you really

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force it... I am who I am for a reason.

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There he is, a very level-headed guy, but absolutely key pivot to the

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Irish team. He is, he is very comfortable and leads by his actions

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on the field. I don't think he is a particular shouter or talks too

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much, he's very structured in what he does but he has a great engine.

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He is still going at 78, 79, 80 minutes, you will find, doing the

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right thing at the right time. But his defence as well is incredibly

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keen for the Manning which Ireland plate. He is one half of the

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half-backs partnership that would normally be Johnny Sexton but Paddy

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Jackson is the man who fills that birth today because Sexton is

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injured. Is that a key, do you think, potentially match defining

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injury? To those who don't know the game particularly well it could

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become a Johnny Sexton is an outstanding player. And a well-known

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player, as is Paddy Jackson. Paddy Jackson has played a lot for Ireland

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through the summer against South Africa, started against Australia,

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came on after 25 minutes against New Zealand and carried the same form

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that Johnny Sexton has. He is a tremendous player. He kicks 87% as

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well. He plays an awful lot of the last few games for Ireland,

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everybody looks at Johnny Sexton, the big name up in lights and

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thinking he is missing and there will be a big hole but this guy is a

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more natural ten than Johnny Sexton. He isn't as good as Johnny Sexton

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but the team play a little bit freer when he plays. When you say he is

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not as good as Johnny Sexton I would say he's not as experienced, I think

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the talent in his ability to run and sidestep and see the gaps, I think

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it is a good thing for Ireland that Scotland will know more about Sexton

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and less about Jackson in this scenario. Five seconds, here is

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Garry Ringrose. He's the first Garry Ringrose. From a Scottish

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perspective, the one statistic they look at that cast a huge dark cloud

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over them is the fact that only once in their history in the whole of the

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Six Nations have a won their opening match of the tournament. These days

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this is a different Scotland who have strength in depth, confidence

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and they are ready to get departing coach Vern Cotter off on a good

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sendoff. Vern is it strange going into the

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Six Nations championship knowing it is your last one? I haven't given it

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much thought, the last game it will sink in but I am firmly focused on

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this game. It is a big game to start with. The whole thing has been about

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preparing well for this. There is a real sense of optimism

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around Scottish Rugby. Do you think you can convert that into the first

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win on the opening day for many a year? That's the intention, to go

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out there and win the game. We are playing a very good team and a lot

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of things have been said, everybody would like to see us do this, most

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of all us, but we know we are playing a good team and we will have

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to be at the top of our game. Stuart Hogg is hotly tipped to make the

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Lions team this summer. What is he likely to bring to Scotland today?

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We know what he can do, he brings the ball up fairly quick on

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counterattack situations, the long kicking game, which will be

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important, because the ball is slippery. The rain should stop but

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it has been raining this morning so our tactics have changed. Today has

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not been what it has been like all week so there have been a few tweaks

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done. The guys are really up for it and hopefully they will put in a

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good performance. Good luck. Thank you.

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It is quite a pleasant afternoon and the rain has stopped, it will be

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greasy on the pitch but it is not as cold as we were expecting. Andy

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Nicholls will be part of the commentary team, welcome to another

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Six Nations. Vern Cotter's last Six Nations. He gave an interesting

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interview a of weeks ago. Doesn't have any bearing on the way Scotland

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

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set of circumstances because normally a coach has left when he is

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not been doing well. Over the last 18 months the players have really

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been buying into what Vern Cotter is trying to get across and there is a

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real alignment and these players love playing for Vern Cotter so I

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think they will be even more motivated in the next five games to

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send him off on a high. We talked about Conor Murray, the number nine

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for Ireland, but what about Greig Laidlaw as captain and the performer

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and pivot of this Scottish team. One of his most important traits for the

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team is his leadership. It is a fairly inexperienced side but he

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brings that real sense of leadership, and also he is the

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points scorer with his goal-kicking. He is so important. Alec Price is on

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the bench and playing well for Glasgow but I think you will see

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Greig Laidlaw play most of the match because I think it will be tight and

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his goal-kicking could be what Scotland need at the end. If they

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need to come back after a few points down then Ali Price gives a

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different option off the bench. Vern Cotter has really leaned on Greig

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Laidlaw on his tenure here and he is his go to man and he is important

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for Scotland. If Scotland are looking for somebody

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with the panache and flair, if you like, to ignite the game in the

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closing stages that is obviously the man, Stuart Hogg with dazzling

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footwork and electric pace. Again, going back to the subject of the

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Lions, you would think he has a very good chance of being a starting

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full-back, or maybe perhaps even on the wing for the Lions in the

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summer. Scottish players have been involved in the starting line-up for

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Lions teams in recent Taurus, few and far between. The halcyon days of

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Gavin Hastings, Tom Smith was very important in South Africa in 1997,

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Tom Smith on his own in 2001 but the last three Lions tours there has not

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been a single Scottish player who has been an automatic starting

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player for any of the subsequent Lions coaches. You would think

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Stuart Hogg is going to be very much in the mix for that and he and Lee

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McKenzie went for a walk around the outside pitches here at Murrayfield.

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# Can we bring yesterday around # Because I know how I feel about

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you now stop # Steward, you are only 24 but it

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feels you have been around for ages, are you an old head on young

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shoulders. I look old! I tend to hang around

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with older guys in the squad, Greig Laidlaw, Ross Ford, I like to pick

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the bones from them and listen to their chat. I am fairly experienced

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and if I can help out in any way, shape or form that is what I'm here

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to do. Does being a father helped with the sense of responsibility?

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Yes, obviously I have the wee boy, Archie, 14 months now, and another

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kid in a few weeks' time. I think I had to mature fairly quick. I love

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seeing the camaraderie between you and the boys, not just on the pitch

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but also on social media. You seem to all get on very well with each

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other. Yes, I think that is shown on social

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media. Sometimes we don't get on with each other.

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Oh! LAUGHTER

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EXPLETIVE Bartlett scared me during the week. For me it is challenge

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accented and it is my turn. You probably don't want to talk

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about this but I'm going to ask about the Lions. How much does it

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mean to get that jersey again? It is first and foremost getting in

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a Scotland 15 jersey and expressing myself and having some fun. If I'm

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good enough to be there than perfect.

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In terms of Glasgow and Edinburgh, their performances have been pretty

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strong throughout the last few months. Does that help create a real

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sense of optimism? Certainly, I think there was a stat

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come out the other day, 33 out of the 37 boys involved in the final

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stages of Europe, so everybody has been playing well and been

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performing. It is a tricky time for the coaches to select the 23. Where

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do you think Scotland has improved? What have you guys been working on

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since the autumn internationals? I think for us everything starts up

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front. If we get our set pieces, scrum and line-out right and get

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good go forward off the back of that we can release the ball to our

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backs. We have a good old back line these days and if we get the boys

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the space the damage is going to happen. As I say everything starts

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up front, everybody has a job to do and if everybody does that we are in

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a good place. # I feel about you now #

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Fantastic aerial shot of Murrayfield on the opening of RBS Six Nations

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2017. Nobody better to talk about him than a man who played over 100

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times for his country. What brings the extra pizzazz to the number 15

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jersey? A lot of it is his confidence and attitude to play but

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he's very skilful. This is the counterattack last year against

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Ireland, he scans for the two front row forwards and then his pace and

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ability to execute it and finish from long range is electric, and

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also he has four of his Glasgow Warriors team-mates alongside him

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this afternoon working really well together. The big thing for me for

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Stuart Hogg over the last two years is his majority. He's only 24 but

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you think back to the red card in Wales, he's a completely different

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person. A couple of years younger than him is Huw Jones in the centre.

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As a centre yourself how impressed were you by the way he surged onto

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the in Sam Rush not seem -- the way he surged onto the international

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scene. He is elusive. With such inexperience, to come into these

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situations and play as if he's been there such a long time is

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impressive. It is good to see him taking hold and really having a go.

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The youngsters, the inexperience, you don't get sucked in by the

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occasion. You really want to get the ball and show why you've been

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selected and he has done that. In the autumn he had a chance and took

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the chance and he wasn't fazed by everything going on. He also seemed

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unfazed by the fact Scotland hadn't been playing well. This is a new

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team, new players, he is confident in his ability. His big point of

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difference is his speed, he is electric and quick with his running.

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He has not played since the Argentina team when he had a foot

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injury. He has not played but no doubt he will come out and played

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impeccably and fast for Scotland. CHEERING

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You can hear the huge ovation for the teams of Scotland and Ireland as

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they take to the field at Murrayfield for the opening game of

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the RBS Six Nations championship. Tomasz Schafernaker, or whoever it

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was on the BBC weather forecast last night, they were expecting to run

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out into torrential rain but it is winter sunshine and it is a glorious

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afternoon. For watching and more importantly for playing. We might

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have had a stodgy start for the Six Nations but no excuse this afternoon

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for having a really good compelling contest between these sides. If you

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are looking you watch and thinking they don't kick off until 2:30pm and

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it is a bit early, they are out early because both sides will be

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presented to the patron of the Scottish Rugby union, that Princess

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Royal am a regular attendee at Murrayfield and has been for many

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years. If we are just talking in general terms about the

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championship, I know you can use facts and figures to prove anything

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who want. But almost all of the Six Nations Championships barring a

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couple have been won by the team that has conceded the fewest tries.

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Is that the base from which you start? You don't concede tries

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therefore you win matches? You do and that's one of the difficulties,

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don't concede tries is almost a negative, and you are trying to play

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positive from the start. You can lose the championship very early on

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by not having your concentration right, by not having the structures

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in the right place. One of the glorious things of this tournament

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is the atmosphere, the hype, but it also is the sense of ambition you

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need to have, you need to get off to a good winning start. If you look at

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all the stats you have to win on the first weekend to go on to win the

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trophy. Does that drive people by and large down a pragmatic route on

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the first day? I suppose it does in many ways. Those who have the

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courage to rise above that and do what is the right thing to do in

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that situation will come out on top. You are right that championship

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teams, successful teams are built on good defence, that must be the

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bedrock of what you do, but making the right decision at the right

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time, being more evasive and given the extra paths if it is on is the

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courage you need, courage is often viewed upon as who can hit hardest,

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or who can get up after being hit but courage in decision making and

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taking a risk can lead to good attacking powers. The game has

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expanded from defence, if you think teams are looking to score 25-35

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points, you've got to score tries, so the emphasis is on attack, how

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can you create that space? How can you get those good players, the game

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breakers, into it? If you watched Ireland against New Zealand in

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Chicago, the intelligence with which they played, the way they spread the

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ball, they spread New Zealand and looked for the gaps, they are such a

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smart team scored 40 points against the All Blacks, you've got to score

:18:57.:19:00.

to win, don't you? Absolutely, there has been a change over the last two

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or three years as the game has moved. From the northern hemisphere

:19:05.:19:07.

teams in the World Cup it was a little bit too early for them. Since

:19:08.:19:11.

then there is more ambition, the greater sense of urgency of racking

:19:12.:19:19.

up points. The often levelled is that it is too robotic and

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repetitive but it was interesting hearing Eddie Jones with Sonia in

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Portugal saying he thinks the game is more chaotic than it's ever been

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before. Would you go along with that? I guess he is saying it from a

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structural point of view, look how many moves you've got to think that

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as a player. The coaches are imparting that knowledge to the

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players, talking about three or four set plays and we just used to have

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one. It is chaotic but the best teams play in a simplified way. It

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is the phases and amount of phases. Three, four, five phases. But you

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get 17, 18, 19 phases and still expect the teams to defend and

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attack and play accordingly. That is the change and that is where the

:20:08.:20:10.

chaotic nature comes from. The analysis is so good these days

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everybody knows what is coming so you need the chaos to bring

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something new to the party and I think we will see that from two

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innovative coaches on the opening weekend of the Six Nations and I'm

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sure we will see something we haven't seen before the catch is

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somebody out. Long conversations going on here. And a bit of hilarity

:20:27.:20:32.

as well. It is all very relaxed. I thought Vern Cotter was more relaxed

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in his pre-match interview as well so maybe it is rubbing off on the

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players. Greig Laidlaw can often be quite cranky, he is a grumpy nine.

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Who will win? It will be Ireland on form. Scotland are on the up but

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they have such a confidence hurdle to get over. Tight, tight, tight,

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Ireland by three or four points. Tight, tight, tight whatever. This

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competition is officially declared the best attended sporting event in

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the world. Here we go with the anthems for the first match in this

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year's RBS Six Nations. # Come the day and come the hour

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Come the power and the glory # We have come to answer

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Our country's call # From the four proud

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provinces of Ireland # Ireland, Ireland

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Together standing tall # Shoulder to shoulder We'll

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answer Ireland's call # Ireland, Ireland

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Together standing tall # Shoulder to shoulder We'll

:22:01.:22:12.

The 18th Six Nations championship begins at Murrayfield with

:22:13.:24:02.

commentary from Paul O'Connell, Andy Nicol and Andrew Cotter.

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Scotland's eternal son of hope and genuine belief and optimism for the

:24:08.:24:12.

home side tempered by a couple of absentee is, in the front row, much

:24:13.:24:18.

is made of the talent of Zander Fagerson who has just turned 21,

:24:19.:24:22.

Brown gets the nod ahead of Ross Ford with Allan Dell winning his

:24:23.:24:25.

fourth cap, each member of the front row start of the Six Nations game

:24:26.:24:29.

for the first time. In the back row Josh Strauss, big ball-carrier,

:24:30.:24:32.

number eight, back line bringing Dummett brimming with talent. Huw

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Jones has not played since a foot injury against Argentina but will be

:24:40.:24:42.

a marked man after an outstanding display in November. As for Ireland

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at tight head Tadhg Furlong, so impressive, Anderson and Devin Toner

:24:50.:24:55.

will relish their appearances. CJ Stander on the blindside is a real

:24:56.:24:59.

threat and a very strong back row. Behind the scrum, no sexton at

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fly-half but Paddy Jackson is almost a regular test starter of late. In

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the centre great thing is expected of Garry Ringrose, the younger and

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less experienced of the Leinster partnership with Robbie Henshaw. A

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high-class back three, all very comfortable under high ball as well,

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looking for those today under the swirling breeze. The replacements

:25:21.:25:23.

show some depth available to both sides in some positions, but

:25:24.:25:27.

Scotland looked thinner in the front row cover where they should be a

:25:28.:25:37.

first cap for Berghan. Scotland gathering in a huddle as the

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countdown continues to the start of the Six Nations. The referee for

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this one is Romain Poite. A full deck of cards, no doubt, in his

:25:46.:25:50.

pocket. We will look for the new laws and interpretations but we hope

:25:51.:25:53.

for an entertaining game. Conditions are fine now. That tackle laws, the

:25:54.:25:58.

bonus points, the players from all corners of the globe, but the

:25:59.:26:03.

excitement of the Six Nations remains a constant. And what a game

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to get as underway at Murrayfield. Romain Poite says to Finn Russell,

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"I'm ready." We are underway in the 2017 RBS Six

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Nations. Finds Zebo initially. He bounces straight into Allan Dell.

:26:28.:26:37.

Scotland with fierce early tackles trying to peg Ireland back and back

:26:38.:26:43.

it goes to Carney. Down on the pitch before kick-off I noticed it was a

:26:44.:26:47.

southerly wind -- Kearney. Scotland will have the slight breeze

:26:48.:26:51.

advantage in the first half. It does swirl around here, no doubt. That

:26:52.:26:55.

was a good physical start in defence by Scotland. They will be pleased to

:26:56.:27:00.

get the first big hit put in. Ireland might have gone through a

:27:01.:27:03.

few more phases but they were on the back foot and Scotland have a good

:27:04.:27:07.

attacking line-out. Brown goes to the front and two Richie Gray

:27:08.:27:11.

waiting there. The little knock-on there. The first scrum of the match

:27:12.:27:15.

and it is Irish ball and Paul O'Connell is looking forward to

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seeing how the scrums go today. The perceived wisdom is Ireland have the

:27:22.:27:25.

upper hand. Yes, I suppose it's a big challenge for Zander Fagerson,

:27:26.:27:28.

so young, tightheads normally develop later so this is a big day

:27:29.:27:33.

for him. The young guy on the other side in Tadhg Furlong for Ireland.

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It will be an interesting battle. Ireland have the weighted advantage.

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Always tells a little story. A good view from the spider cam overhead.

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The front rows come together for the first time. Marie Waits and feeds.

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-- Murray waits. Nothing going on yet. Ireland looking for the first

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penalty, a big marker laid down. Massive moment. Normally hear you

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are trying to exit from your own half of the pitch. You going to

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Whitfield and kick it long, if you get a penalty is the best way, get

:28:17.:28:20.

the ball back again 40 metres down the field. The contrast between the

:28:21.:28:24.

sides, the ball went in and Ireland were happy the scrum to take long as

:28:25.:28:28.

possible. Scotland will want to see the converse, get the ball in and

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out and Fraser Brown to put it and get the ball away as quickly as

:28:32.:28:35.

possible because you saw the advantage Ireland have. Daily are

:28:36.:28:38.

the Irish ball, Irish line-out, the first chance for Ireland to attack.

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If their captain Rory Best can find his target. Which he does. The ball

:28:45.:28:56.

is back for Murray. Fed back now for Sean O'Brien. Big hits coming in.

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Ireland, can they lift the pace. Heaslip with an early carry? Quick

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ball for Ireland again, battling their way through CJ Stander, so

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impressive in the autumn. Back it comes to Heaslip once more. And into

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Fagerson and Richie Gray, but Ireland still with the ball and

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attacking and hanging onto it now as Henshaw lays it back, a little bit

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untidily, eventually. The turnover. Laidlaw can fire their Scottish

:29:36.:29:38.

backline and wide it goes to Huw Jones. Jones may have looked to pass

:29:39.:29:43.

in front to Maitland but Maitland galloping onto it and Scotland have

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a chance. Russell onto Fagerson and beyond it goes. And now Scotland

:29:49.:29:58.

have meant out wide but the little knock-on and off Huw Jones just

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about where the scrum was first they will do it again. Scotland had the

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numbers, just needed to put it through the hands, they didn't need

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to do much else, that is a shame because turnover ball is what you

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are after. This is the bit where they got the turnover, Fraser Brown,

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Dunbar, in there, the ball all over the place, Scotland get the

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turnover, the pass out wide, just what they needed. This is when it

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came down, too hard from Finn Russell. That really was an

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opportunity for Scotland. You can see the frustration.

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We talked about how electric Huw Jones was in November. His parents,

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his father was teaching at John Watson' College, that is why he was

:30:45.:30:49.

born in Scotland. English parents, unknown to Fraser Brown. That he was

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called, in rugby terms, in South Africa, Huw Jones. Fraser Brown

:30:54.:30:59.

might be getting a blood reversal. Again, we mentioned that he hasn't

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played since that game against Argentina in November. No matter how

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fit you are, there is match fitness as well. And sharpness. He was

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involved in the preseason at the Stormers but it is very different to

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training hard and training under pressure to training in a

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full-blooded Test match. This will be an early appearance for Ross Ford

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as Fraser Brown goes for blood reversal. Cap number 103. Initially.

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But I am sure we will see you later on. A decent chunk of a man to be

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waiting in the wings. They will have debated long and hard whether he

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starts because of his scrummaging. Fraser Brown was outstanding for

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Glasgow couple of weeks ago for Leicester. Ross Ford will probably

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improve the scrum for the time he is on the pitch. The instant litmus

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test is this one. Almost exactly the same position as the previous one. I

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learned just waited and waited and then the surge came on.

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Dell just popped out an island status trade. Look at him on the

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side nearest us, hopefully he can stay straight. And lay off the

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scrum. The same result. Penalty coming,

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surely, for Ireland. There it is. DRS scrums and two to destructions

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of the Scottish pack. You can see the way he comes on, Del's hips

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popped out to the left. Ireland goes straight through. It could be a long

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day if it continues like this. Paid attention but clearly under

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pressure. Not just a very strong in the scrum

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but very impressive in the loose as well. From on high, we get a great

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view of it. You can just see Dell popped out as the pressure comes

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out. He needs a bit of help from his/her close, his second rowers.

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This line-out is scrappy. -- from his hookers. From Ireland's

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wastefulness. Watson takes it. A live wire. A bit around the collar.

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But Scotland are still with it. Again, a chance to attack.

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Shovelling it onto Maitland. Jonny Gray. Scotland back up to the

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ten metre line. The game is going through the same patterns. Richie

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Gray, this time. Allan trying to hold them up. Russell thinks he sees

:33:46.:33:46.

a bit of space. Keith earls has a bit of time to

:33:47.:33:54.

slice it massively off the outside of his boot. You can see the attempt

:33:55.:33:58.

for Scotland, wanting it to go wide. Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland full of

:33:59.:34:05.

confidence at the moment and then the power comes in. The Rae

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Brothers, the main ball carriers for Scotland. When you are captain of a

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site where the scrum is struggling, is there a way you can actually try

:34:15.:34:20.

and avoid scrums in a game of rugby? -- the Gray Brothers. You have to

:34:21.:34:30.

man up. We have some rain early on. The board is greasy. There will be a

:34:31.:34:36.

lot of scrums. Wilson took it. Looking for the inside man, Sean

:34:37.:34:37.

Maitland. Again, Scotland, through Jonny Gray.

:34:38.:34:47.

Rossall looking for width. Huw Jones hanging that -- Russell. Hogg is

:34:48.:34:56.

there. CMOS battling his way down the wing. Scotland to within seven

:34:57.:35:01.

metres of the line. -- Seymour battling his way. They are

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struggling but move forward with a vengeance. Richie Gray. The noise

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grows inside Murrayfield. Hamish Watson still going up to within two

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metres of the line. Scotland bearing down on the try line.

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It slows for a moment. Laidlaw thinks but picked up by the forwards

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and driven. The Irish defence being sorely tested. Richie Gray is there

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again. But still just short. Urged on by the Murrayfield

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faithful. Gives it wide. Hogg has it! For the line and the score!

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Scotland welcome a try, scoring at Murrayfield. It was a team try to

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bring the crowds to life. That really was 18 try. Good composure,

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good patients. At various stages I thought they went wide. They didn't

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panic. -- good patience. Sometimes it can go for the attacking team and

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this was at the very end. Good, long past. It goes to ground. A great try

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by Scotland. So nearly an interception. It was the best pass.

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It really puts defences under pressure. Real patience from

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Scotland. Often you see teams panicking when they are that close

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to the line, forcing passes but they were very careful in what they did.

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They converted a try really well. Stuart Hogg now Scotland's all-time

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leading try scorer in the Six Nations. It gives great Laidlaw this

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conversion -- Greig Laidlaw. It's a difficult day for the

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kickers. A converted try. Scotland 7-0 to the

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good. I wonder how am that dominance in the set piece... A loose line-out

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which eventually brought a bout that try. That is the challenge for

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Scotland. They've got to try to play error-free rugby. The more mistakes

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there are, the more scrums they are, the more dominant island will be.

:37:28.:37:32.

We've seen what Scotland can do. -- more dominant Ireland. Restart taken

:37:33.:37:42.

by Ireland. A huge thump on Zebo. Ireland with an instant chance to

:37:43.:37:43.

respond. Furlong. Again, the Scottish tackles are

:37:44.:37:54.

thick and fast. Fagerson hitting best.

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Every green shirt has a target on it at the moment.

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Carried in by O'Brien. It is still there for Ireland. Heaslip. Furlong,

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again, to Jackson. A loose one. Scotland just waited in defence.

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Zebo. Fraser Brown back on the pitch. Good strength. He makes his

:38:24.:38:28.

way past Dunbar to the edge of the 22. Some thumping challenges coming

:38:29.:38:36.

in. Allan Dell was there. Murray fires it out. Paddy Jackson.

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O'Brien! O'Brien is through on his own. He bounces through one tackle

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and now Ireland menacing the Scottish try line. WHISTLE

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Turnover. But advantage being played and then another penalty. Ryan

:38:54.:39:00.

Wilson believes his case. A decision to make. In the autumn, Ireland

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indisposition almost always went to the corner. -- in this position.

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There it is again, no hesitation. It will be a five metre line-out. One

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area Scotland were concerned about in November and Ireland were very

:39:16.:39:19.

strong hand, the driving maul off the five metre line-out. We shall

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see how this goes. Ryan Wilson thought he did it fairly

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but not. A real opportunity for Ireland. Best goes long. Just

:39:30.:39:36.

watching. Stander takes it. Trying to get towards the line. Down it

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goes. Advantage. Scotland can only bring it down a legally. Ireland

:39:41.:39:42.

with a penalty. Scotland will have to be very

:39:43.:39:57.

careful. As a captain, when you go dominant maul, dominant scrum, would

:39:58.:40:04.

you take the line-out? Would you consider a scrum? I would consider

:40:05.:40:06.

scrum actually but Ireland have been cut from five metres out in the

:40:07.:40:10.

past. The more times you have to defend, the less chance you have.

:40:11.:40:14.

They are wary of giving away a penalty, they are wary of the yellow

:40:15.:40:20.

card and you have to be careful. They did not have to leap too far.

:40:21.:40:26.

Very well set up. Ireland again and it splinters and breaks. WHISTLE

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The decision... Well, scrum to Scotland. That was

:40:28.:40:38.

set up and it looks like it was going to be going over the line

:40:39.:40:40.

without any trouble whatsoever. The referee has deemed that it

:40:41.:40:49.

separated. We can see that look at that. You probably think that is

:40:50.:40:54.

going to go over. Where is the separation? They've basically

:40:55.:40:57.

changed lanes. That is what they call it. Accidental offside. Without

:40:58.:41:04.

indicating. Jonny Gray's had a bit of treatment and Scotland have the

:41:05.:41:08.

scrum. But it's a small respite, isn't it? You asked me earlier that

:41:09.:41:12.

the scrum but the big thing is the coach. He is seen two scrums from a

:41:13.:41:18.

good angle as well and it will be interesting to see what changes they

:41:19.:41:22.

can make from that feedback from the touchline. Keep an eye on Schmidt

:41:23.:41:29.

along with Andy Farrell, keep an eye on Tadhg Furlong and Allan Dell. A

:41:30.:41:37.

bit of a mismatch. This is where Fraser Brown needs to get this to

:41:38.:41:41.

Josh Strauss' feet as quick as possible. Ireland but the squeeze on

:41:42.:41:47.

and Scotland battling. It is not coming back and Scotland under real

:41:48.:41:49.

pressure. Murray complains. What is the decision? The ball got

:41:50.:42:00.

to the back of the scrum but they weren't in any position. As a

:42:01.:42:03.

scrum-half, you don't want to pick it up when you're not in a passing

:42:04.:42:07.

position, they need to get Josh Strauss into the channel one

:42:08.:42:10.

position in many ways. It does lessen the push through the two

:42:11.:42:14.

second rows. They have to try to get this out as quickly as possible.

:42:15.:42:18.

Scotland want a fast and loose game, they don't want any of the set piece

:42:19.:42:26.

of nonsense. But Ireland are in a great position, even though they do

:42:27.:42:30.

not have the put-in. They have a view things to say, the Scotland's

:42:31.:42:34.

forwards coach. In it goes from Laidlaw. Looking for it sharply at

:42:35.:42:41.

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

:42:42.:42:48.

line. Dunbar did a carry -- run a bit. Deep into the in-goal area.

:42:49.:42:54.

Hogg. A following breeze. It can send them a long way down but Connie

:42:55.:42:57.

Mack is waiting for them. In full flight. -- but Kearney. He almost

:42:58.:43:05.

managed it. Jackson gives it a bit deeper to

:43:06.:43:15.

Zebo. A half chance. Back they go bust Rory Best has to tumble on it.

:43:16.:43:24.

A bit of a charge from CJ Stander. The kick is coming. Setting up the

:43:25.:43:37.

goals from Murray. A good take from Hogg. All he can do is wander

:43:38.:43:42.

towards the East stand. You had just seen the whole repertoire from

:43:43.:43:46.

Stuart Hogg. The try scorer, the long kick from defence. The spiral

:43:47.:43:51.

and the high ball. He's got everything. He's an outstanding

:43:52.:43:55.

player with full of confidence. He knocks his team-mate and friend,

:43:56.:44:00.

Seymour out because he is in such good form in all aspects of the

:44:01.:44:05.

game. Difficult conditions for a man and a high ball today, the flags

:44:06.:44:08.

really are in full sail in the East stand. Murray and Jackson. Another

:44:09.:44:13.

opportunity. Scotland wants more on the defence

:44:14.:44:24.

gets it away sharply on the defence. Zebo. So long to Jackson. Toner hit

:44:25.:44:37.

hard by Strauss and company. Ireland still with it. Ringrose now tries to

:44:38.:44:45.

guide his way past Russell. Plenty of ball for Ireland. The spill in

:44:46.:44:49.

the tackle. Wilson comes away with it. Russell decides to put a boot on

:44:50.:44:55.

ball, downwind behind a Zebo. Zebo and Kearney wondering about and

:44:56.:45:01.

trying to turn it. Punching it into the wind. Some gross defensive play

:45:02.:45:07.

from Scotland, they have defended 25 metre mauls, a five metre scrum,

:45:08.:45:13.

cleared their lines well. They are putting them under pressure. This

:45:14.:45:17.

was the pressure on Murray that we talked about so much for the last

:45:18.:45:20.

few weeks. Ten out of ten. Russell coming through. There has been a

:45:21.:45:27.

real bike about Scotland's defence. Good line speed and organisation.

:45:28.:45:34.

The man alongside Vern Cotter, Jason O'Halloran, the attack coach. He

:45:35.:45:39.

said that wasn't straight. Not even close to being straight. These are

:45:40.:45:42.

the things, when your scrum is under pressure, that's a free ball, a free

:45:43.:45:47.

opportunity to probably get another penalty and then get 40 yards down

:45:48.:45:51.

there and defend your line-out in U own 22. We talked -- we had Stuart

:45:52.:45:57.

Hogg talk about set piece evidence. Take parity at this stage. Fraser

:45:58.:46:01.

Brown has to apologise and say scrum again. Jason O'Halloran was saying

:46:02.:46:08.

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

:46:09.:46:09.

of young players in there. The area that every site needs a

:46:10.:46:20.

really strong tight head, Zander Fagerson is powerful enough but

:46:21.:46:22.

still very young. WHISTLE Again, penalty to Ireland. There

:46:23.:46:28.

will be a talking to, here. Perhaps, next time, something more.

:46:29.:46:36.

Infringement at the scrum. Don't let them hit and go forward. That was

:46:37.:46:44.

steady but number three collapsing. The new one has had a go at trying

:46:45.:46:51.

to chat to the referee. There's no talking to him. I don't think

:46:52.:46:56.

there's any value in trying to influence the referee. I tried to do

:46:57.:46:59.

it for too long. You pick and choose one or two moments and that's it.

:47:00.:47:04.

But the odd word, what Greg just did, watch what they are doing, is

:47:05.:47:09.

always good. He has planted a seed about the kick and chase. It is

:47:10.:47:14.

something that is... You may have a point, looking at that scrum, you

:47:15.:47:17.

may have a point. What a kick that was from the penalty, though. This

:47:18.:47:21.

into a bit of a breeze and it has taken Ireland all the way up to

:47:22.:47:24.

within ten metres of the Scottish line. Rory Best. Looking for his

:47:25.:47:31.

target. Again, it goes wrong for Ireland. Back, six, green. Quickest

:47:32.:47:40.

to it was the more. Scotland try and earn a few yards before their

:47:41.:47:43.

clearance. Brown playing it back. Hogg. Had to send that one of his

:47:44.:47:58.

left boot. Zebo again. It is all happening inside the Scottish half.

:47:59.:47:59.

WHISTLE You know, that was the worry for me.

:48:00.:48:13.

A big part of the Irish line-up for the last few years and he's one of

:48:14.:48:17.

the best back row jumpers around. He takes the pressure off the line-up.

:48:18.:48:21.

Towards the end of my career when I was getting older and slower, it was

:48:22.:48:24.

great to have him there. He's a big loss to the Irish side today.

:48:25.:48:30.

Amazing the contrast in the set piece scrum has been dominated by

:48:31.:48:34.

Ireland. Line-out, Scotland have gotten in there but in the loose,

:48:35.:48:37.

Scotland are dominating in that space. This is the line-out which

:48:38.:48:42.

went wrong, Richie Gray in front of Devin Toner. Well cleared up by

:48:43.:48:45.

Tommy Seymour by the way. Richie Gray doing his best to disrupt.

:48:46.:48:50.

Scotland's line-out, now. Andy Farrell. Joe Schmidt. They need

:48:51.:48:54.

to be in there as well. A quarter of the match gone and

:48:55.:49:09.

still just one school from Scotland from one real attack but here they

:49:10.:49:13.

come again. Arch one score. Stuart Hogg! Two for Hogg! 'S chances, two

:49:14.:49:23.

scores for Scotland. Up against it for so much that they leave by 12

:49:24.:49:29.

points and Murrayfield wands again alive. Stuart Hogg and 15. The man

:49:30.:49:36.

is on fire. -- once again. Trying to get space forward. Somebody in this

:49:37.:49:41.

vein of form with the confidence got, and he can snatch at the line.

:49:42.:49:46.

Outstanding finish. You knew that Keith earls was drifting out. All

:49:47.:49:54.

set up. Nice, flat pass. He knew that Kearney would take the final

:49:55.:49:58.

man. What a try. What a player he is.

:49:59.:50:02.

Earls is not that slow. It goes to show how fast Stuart Hogg is. Before

:50:03.:50:08.

this week, everyone will be picking his Lions team and Stuart Hogg would

:50:09.:50:12.

probably be the first guy on it. And this is why. Remember his trial last

:50:13.:50:17.

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

:50:18.:50:23.

last year at the Aviva Stadium. That was electric. Player at the last Six

:50:24.:50:26.

Nations, he was voted will stop second try. Laidlaw chance from the

:50:27.:50:33.

other side of the pitch. Whatever side he scopes them through.

:50:34.:50:37.

Scotland 14 points out. APPLAUSE It's a curious game for many years,

:50:38.:50:41.

Scotland supporters watch their side play and had lots of possession and

:50:42.:50:44.

territory but couldn't score tries. Now just two real chances at twice

:50:45.:50:50.

taken. If you think about it, the referee, at the next scrum, Scotland

:50:51.:50:54.

could go down to 14 member they have 14 points but that they have played

:50:55.:50:57.

with such confidence and accuracy -- 14 men, but they have. Bounces off

:50:58.:51:05.

Hogg. So, he is human. He is human after all! Commentator's curse.

:51:06.:51:11.

Ireland had a line-out again. A huge target.

:51:12.:51:17.

Devin Toner. The last couple of line-out have not gone well. In

:51:18.:51:24.

fact, they are coming back for the knock-on. There will be a line-out

:51:25.:51:28.

and scrum again, which is certainly better for Ireland. This is where

:51:29.:51:32.

Scotland have to look a bit more robust. Ireland happy enough it's

:51:33.:51:35.

going to the scrum. Ladle shouting a few instructions to

:51:36.:51:50.

his defence, backline -- Laidlaw shouting. A more solid scrum.

:51:51.:51:58.

Jackson to Henshaw. Tumbling into the 22, how can Ireland respond?

:51:59.:52:04.

Jackson, good strength and Paddy Jackson almost threw on his own!

:52:05.:52:07.

Hamish Watson eventually got to him that options either side for

:52:08.:52:12.

Ireland. Heaslip. Mary slapping away johnny -- Jonny Gray. Carried by

:52:13.:52:18.

Iain Henderson. Stander. Ireland assaulting the

:52:19.:52:22.

Scottish line. A good ball for Ireland to play

:52:23.:52:39.

with. Henshaw again. Bowling his way on.

:52:40.:52:43.

Punching away, blindside. Scrambling on. Murray looks for Henderson.

:52:44.:52:58.

Carried by O'Brien instead. Hit by the pace. Going through the phases.

:52:59.:53:00.

Heaslip. Jackson. Kearney. Huw Jones and

:53:01.:53:12.

Hamish Watson, there. Still with Ireland. Strauss and Richie Gray

:53:13.:53:21.

claim him. Jackson, again. Upended. Still they come. 15, 16 phases now.

:53:22.:53:28.

Stander rolling on. Zebo into play. Scrum-half. Battering away. McGrath.

:53:29.:53:36.

The Scottish defence still working. But working so hard. Heaslip now

:53:37.:53:42.

through. Body is getting rather weary. Penalty, advantage, to

:53:43.:53:43.

Ireland. Six, away! Murray digs. Closing in on 20

:53:44.:53:57.

phases. Jackson to Zebo. Seymour tries to get it. Earls for the

:53:58.:54:00.

corner. Ireland hit back! He thinks he's scored, the crowd in

:54:01.:54:08.

that, think he's scored. They will just check. -- the crowd in that

:54:09.:54:11.

corner. REFEREE: To check if the player has

:54:12.:54:25.

touched the ground. Please. Try, yes or no. Scotland's defence up until

:54:26.:54:30.

that point were good because Ireland were one-dimensional, quite

:54:31.:54:33.

predictable. Almost when the penalty advantage was conceded, let's have a

:54:34.:54:42.

look... Yeah, that's a try. A clear try. Once the penalty advantage

:54:43.:54:46.

happened, it was likely Scottish defence lost that intensity and the

:54:47.:54:50.

big pass out wide went and I could try. A good finish by Keith earls.

:54:51.:54:56.

Glenn Newman, the TMO says you can awarded. WHISTLE

:54:57.:55:02.

A tough conversion. I think Fraser Brown is coming off for blood coming

:55:03.:55:04.

out of his nose. It falls to Paddy Jackson. A fine,

:55:05.:55:15.

fine placekicker. Almost nearing 90% last year in international rugby.

:55:16.:55:19.

The wind swirls around inside Murrayfield from right out on the

:55:20.:55:22.

touchline. 5-point try. What a start to the

:55:23.:55:39.

game. I am sure it is nothing to do with bonus points but a veritable

:55:40.:55:42.

try Best. They deserve a try. Tommy Seymour does read the game

:55:43.:55:50.

very well. Probably should have had it because he got both hands, you

:55:51.:55:55.

can see his frustration in the bottom corner. Rugby should have

:55:56.:55:58.

taken that and it would have been a three point rather than a five point

:55:59.:56:02.

-- probably should have. Advantage being played in any case but Seymour

:56:03.:56:06.

doesn't miss too many of those. Only seven minutes gone.

:56:07.:56:09.

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

:56:10.:56:19.

Furlong. Back on temporarily for Fraser

:56:20.:56:23.

Brown. Richie Gray pretends he's getting

:56:24.:56:27.

out of the way. REFEREE: Advantage. A mistake. They

:56:28.:56:39.

tried to launch a flurry down the blindside and almost away, Tommy

:56:40.:56:42.

Seymour but Scotland with another opportunity. Fagerson. The young man

:56:43.:56:46.

very strong in the loose. Laidlaw switches it. Russell has a bit of a

:56:47.:56:49.

think. Scotland get it a setback. A gift of

:56:50.:56:58.

an opportunity for Scotland. Josh Strauss.

:56:59.:57:03.

REFEREE: Heads up. The call is eventually laid. Russell. A bit of a

:57:04.:57:13.

trip. Zebo able to watch it but it only slides out with it. A great way

:57:14.:57:20.

from the chip. Strange from Ireland, you would have thought they would

:57:21.:57:23.

have exited with a big kick from Murray to try something on the short

:57:24.:57:24.

side. Came off Rob Carney unaware of

:57:25.:57:37.

Murray's intentions. Opportunity for Scotland, needing half an hour. --

:57:38.:57:43.

Rob Kearney. Ireland's turn to defend the five metre Drive. Nervous

:57:44.:57:48.

and difficult place to defend. Both sides have been uncertain in the

:57:49.:57:51.

line-out. A sneaky one and straight through for the try. Dunbar. Alex

:57:52.:57:58.

Dunbar straight through the middle, catching Ireland unawares. Great

:57:59.:58:05.

invention. But where was the Irish defence watching? Alex Dunbar

:58:06.:58:08.

getting in among the forwards. Outstanding play. Very tricky little

:58:09.:58:12.

player, no lift, no job, just puts it over the top of Greig Laidlaw in

:58:13.:58:19.

front of the line-out. Very simple. You can see that Ireland are set up

:58:20.:58:23.

to defend the middle and the back of the line-out, not just set up to

:58:24.:58:26.

defend the front, they are hoping to go to the front and Ireland can

:58:27.:58:31.

drive them into the touchline. Just goes straight over Greig Laidlaw's

:58:32.:58:37.

head. Great little play. Great little play. Not often you see the

:58:38.:58:42.

backs lurking in and taking part in the line-out. Dunbar, so well

:58:43.:58:48.

worked. In lot of teams now do ten, 11 man drives, they bring in the

:58:49.:58:52.

centres. They set up the line-out and bring in the backs, we've seen

:58:53.:58:56.

England to do it a lot recently. Ireland were getting ready for a big

:58:57.:59:00.

drive, when you bring in the backs. You're thinking this is going to be

:59:01.:59:03.

a big drive, we don't need to worry about a play at the backline. Pretty

:59:04.:59:09.

much three moves to the 22 and three tries. Laidlaw. A wonderful kick. In

:59:10.:59:13.

those conditions off a right foot as well.

:59:14.:59:19.

I would never have thought Scotland would be one of the bonus point

:59:20.:59:28.

before half-time. Such a one off. Straight over Greig Laidlaw. Rory

:59:29.:59:32.

Best is there to mark him. Not expecting him. It's not something

:59:33.:59:36.

we've seen from Scotland in the past. Fielded well by Hamish Watson.

:59:37.:59:48.

Scotland try and accept their 22. Good take. Straight down the middle

:59:49.:00:04.

it goes. Sits up for Paddy Jackson. Ireland looking for the response

:00:05.:00:08.

again. Kearney. Wrapped up by Jonny Gray.

:00:09.:00:14.

The switch to Zebo. Onto Ringrose. In confusion with Robbie Henshaw.

:00:15.:00:22.

The referee having a long look at that. It seems fine.

:00:23.:00:31.

Stander to Jackson. Deep it goes now. Earls must take it at a

:00:32.:00:39.

standstill. Good power, not the biggest man but plenty of strength.

:00:40.:00:46.

Furlong to Henderson. The referee says that's fine. Jackson again,

:00:47.:00:52.

deep it goes, and on through the Leinster men, Henshaw and then

:00:53.:01:05.

Ringrose. Stander hit hard again. Here is Henshaw. No way through, Huw

:01:06.:01:10.

Jones takes him down. Ireland going through the phases, trying to build.

:01:11.:01:16.

The captain carries, Jackson and Henderson, little pop to Kearney,

:01:17.:01:25.

unceremoniously dumped. There is Henshaw again but Ireland not making

:01:26.:01:30.

much ground at the moment, through a dozen phases now. The little step

:01:31.:01:41.

came from Ringrose. Heaslip. Advantage to Ireland. Scotland

:01:42.:01:44.

offside. A little free attack from Jackson to try something but they

:01:45.:01:47.

will come back for that penalty now. The quality of the Scottish tackling

:01:48.:01:53.

is outstanding. A lot of talk about defensive systems in the modern

:01:54.:01:57.

game, but the guys have two man up and make big tackles as well. When

:01:58.:02:01.

you see Ireland playing well in the autumn they play quick ball. The

:02:02.:02:07.

Scottish tackling is excellent. The disappointing thing from the

:02:08.:02:10.

Scottish perspective is because their defence has been so strong,

:02:11.:02:14.

give the extra half Yarde, that was done for offside, not retreating

:02:15.:02:18.

back, and it wasn't that quick ball. They can afford to get behind the

:02:19.:02:21.

offside line, don't give the referee or the touch judge a chance because

:02:22.:02:26.

the defence is so strong. The possession stats, 63% for Ireland,

:02:27.:02:31.

since is prevailing here now and Ireland looking to accumulate some

:02:32.:02:36.

points. Ireland look predictable at the moment. Probably as a result of

:02:37.:02:41.

good Scottish defence. Hamish Watson at the breakdown as well, I was

:02:42.:02:45.

wondering why Barclay wasn't playing but sometimes he's not as clean at

:02:46.:02:49.

the breakdown, Chris Paterson, we were chatting before the game,

:02:50.:02:52.

sometimes he's not so clean at the breakdown. He gives away very few

:02:53.:02:58.

penalties, gets it out before he gets into trouble. Good strike from

:02:59.:03:03.

Paddy Jackson, three points for Ireland, they move onto eight.

:03:04.:03:09.

Something for the Irish supporters to cheer but not too much so far.

:03:10.:03:16.

And plenty for the Irish coaching team to mull over at half-time.

:03:17.:03:26.

Russell with the restart. Devin Toner takes it down. Murray just

:03:27.:03:39.

gets the kick away. Richie Gray. The big man in his way. Hogg. Irish

:03:40.:03:48.

shirts around the flying full-back. Here is Hamish Watson again. Through

:03:49.:03:55.

Ringrose and still going, he's a squat, powerful ball-carrier.

:03:56.:03:59.

Russell sliding through almost, gives it to Jonny Gray. Ireland

:04:00.:04:05.

getting some hands on that. Fagerson. Scotland look to build

:04:06.:04:09.

again. Richie Gray. Russell. Heaslip takes him down.

:04:10.:04:26.

Stander trying to secure the turnover but gets the penalty for

:04:27.:04:31.

Ireland. It was a strong first tackle, Finn Russell was just the

:04:32.:04:34.

wrong way and had to work really hard to get his body round to get

:04:35.:04:38.

the ball back which allowed time for CJ Stander to get on it and when he

:04:39.:04:42.

is on it he is so strong. I've watched Finn Russell twice in that

:04:43.:04:46.

set of phases, he was taking the ball to the line, putting inside

:04:47.:04:50.

dummies, outside dummies, which holds the defence and that's the

:04:51.:04:54.

style of play which has freed up them to get the tries. Heaslip,

:04:55.:05:04.

struggling to get his body round, allowing time for Stander to get in.

:05:05.:05:09.

Good back row sort of double defence, one making the tackle and

:05:10.:05:12.

one affecting the penalty. Irish line-out again, this has been

:05:13.:05:18.

misfiring. It works better this time for the men in green, carried by

:05:19.:05:22.

Stander, such a powerful man. Hamish Watson just gets to him eventually.

:05:23.:05:30.

And then Kearney, the strength from the full-back again, Maitland.

:05:31.:05:33.

Ireland looking for a score before half-time. And there is CJ Stander.

:05:34.:05:43.

Murray gets his pass away to Henshaw and Keith earls.

:05:44.:05:48.

Jack McGrath. Henderson. Again it goes deep from Ireland and Sean

:05:49.:05:59.

O'Brien thumps his way into the challenge from Huw Jones and Jones

:06:00.:06:04.

is getting in the way of it. Murray gives it to Tadhg Furlong. Phase

:06:05.:06:13.

after phase for Ireland. Henderson on to Henshaw, well taken by

:06:14.:06:19.

Laidlaw. The penalty is Scotland's penalty this time. I wasn't sure

:06:20.:06:24.

which way Romain Poite was pointing. Great defence from Scotland. It

:06:25.:06:29.

really was really good. Especially when Ireland did go wide it was one

:06:30.:06:35.

on one on two and sometimes more defenders than attackers. They are

:06:36.:06:39.

working very well and being very efficient in the contact to get

:06:40.:06:43.

outside and fill the gaps. It has been outstanding defensive display

:06:44.:06:47.

by Scotland so far. Ireland have had a lot of possession, but I think we

:06:48.:06:53.

are quite slow, the ball we are generating just doesn't look

:06:54.:06:57.

threatening. Scotland look really comfortable at defending. They

:06:58.:07:00.

looked like they are making really big hits. You can see that here.

:07:01.:07:04.

They are not just making big hits, it's the second effort and then

:07:05.:07:07.

getting back into line and back into the defensive line and having that a

:07:08.:07:12.

pace to come off. It has been a very collective defence. Taylor on the

:07:13.:07:18.

front left of Vern Cotter, look at the tackles, 84 tackles they have

:07:19.:07:24.

made compared to 37. They have missed 12 but they haven't really

:07:25.:07:28.

impacted the game. It has been the intensity, pace, ferocity and

:07:29.:07:32.

collectiveness which has been very impressive. Instead it will be

:07:33.:07:36.

Scotland looking for another score before half-time. And again, the

:07:37.:07:38.

line-outs have been inconsistent from both sides. Ryan Wilson the man

:07:39.:07:49.

at the front, as Scotland try and get it away, not perhaps the 40 but

:07:50.:07:54.

they start to move and Ford gives it to Laidlaw, crashing through, see

:07:55.:08:00.

more off the wing. Russell hurling it wide and Hogg again, the danger

:08:01.:08:05.

of the little step, Huw Jones is lending his support. Maitland to

:08:06.:08:10.

ground. Scotland into the 22 again. Ryan Wilson with the carry, again

:08:11.:08:15.

Henderson trying to keep up. Wilson eventually gets to ground. Onto

:08:16.:08:23.

Gray, the elder, Richie Gray sets it back. Nobody there at the moment,

:08:24.:08:29.

the scrum-half for Scotland. Jonny Gray gives it the way to carry it

:08:30.:08:38.

on. Laidlaw points the way again. A more deliberate, Paul Fuller sack

:08:39.:08:49.

this from Scotland. Still there. Looking for try number four before

:08:50.:08:53.

half-time. Options outside to Strauss, almost goes through Jack

:08:54.:08:57.

McGrath and Ireland's defence is beginning to buckle a little bit.

:08:58.:09:02.

Jonny Gray. No support, goes himself. It's not the quickest

:09:03.:09:07.

attack but it's building and building and Russell to Hogg and the

:09:08.:09:10.

tackle comes in this time, good strength from the full-back, Heaslip

:09:11.:09:15.

was piling in on him. It is still there just for Scotland. That Apple

:09:16.:09:20.

had to be made on Hogg. Richie Gray and Scotland up to within six or

:09:21.:09:26.

seven metres. 11 phases, 30 seconds before half-time. Jonny Gray out

:09:27.:09:30.

wide to Russell who tries to offload and it is an interception! Zebo

:09:31.:09:37.

kicks and the chase is on. See more against Zebo. Seymour is there but

:09:38.:09:43.

Zebo is upon him. -- Seymour. Seymour is back on his feet, and who

:09:44.:09:46.

will have the final say in this first half? The ball is there for

:09:47.:09:50.

Scotland. Laidlaw summoning in the troops. He just takes a moment and

:09:51.:09:59.

the half will be over now. Scotland might just kick it out. Laidlaw

:10:00.:10:05.

asking the question. Out it will go now. A frantic end to the first

:10:06.:10:09.

half. Unbelievable first half, unbelievable finish, as ever with

:10:10.:10:13.

the interception it can go either way but you saw a bit of leadership

:10:14.:10:16.

from Greig Laidlaw, who knew there was ten seconds, one more phase, get

:10:17.:10:23.

it out. 21-8, I have to say what an unbelievable first 40 minutes of

:10:24.:10:27.

this year's RBS Six Nations. Scotland look more dangerous, every

:10:28.:10:31.

time they get the ball you feel if Hogg or Seymour get it something

:10:32.:10:34.

will happen, I don't get that feeling when Ireland have the ball.

:10:35.:10:41.

There we are, what a half, 21-8, three tries to one, but this game is

:10:42.:10:43.

far from done. Scotland high on the Hogg after the

:10:44.:10:56.

opening 40 minutes of the RBS Six Nations, first try for Stuart Hogg,

:10:57.:11:00.

second try for Stuart Hogg making him Scotland's all-time leading try

:11:01.:11:04.

scorer in the Six Nations so far. Welcome to the brave new world of

:11:05.:11:09.

bonus point try scoring attacking, running rugby of the Six Nations.

:11:10.:11:13.

All we need is the weather and you get a product like this. Just

:11:14.:11:15.

imagine how different things might be if the weather men had been right

:11:16.:11:21.

and we had horizontal rain and howling gales, how different things

:11:22.:11:25.

might have been. Anyway, there are the facts and figures, most

:11:26.:11:27.

interestingly, whenever you watch the All Blacks played they play in

:11:28.:11:31.

matches when they have less possession and score more points and

:11:32.:11:35.

this has been the successful role for Scotland at the moment. What a

:11:36.:11:38.

start and opening 40 minutes of rugby. It's incredibly Scotland only

:11:39.:11:43.

have 40% possession, they've missed 14 tackles, lost the penalty count

:11:44.:11:49.

7-2 but 21-8 up, some brilliant tries and brilliant endeavour. The

:11:50.:11:52.

accuracy on the outside channels, just blown away by the intensity

:11:53.:11:56.

Scotland started that match with. It's extraordinarily, phenomenal,

:11:57.:12:02.

great attitude, great attention to detail, great turnovers from

:12:03.:12:05.

Scotland, and the absolute reverse from Ireland. The Lions play has

:12:06.:12:10.

been poor, the attention to detail, they are dreadful. It is amazing

:12:11.:12:14.

when you can see a switch on one side or the other, when Ireland got

:12:15.:12:18.

a little touch for one moment they scored a try but other than that

:12:19.:12:22.

they have not been in the game. It is worth saying it is only two

:12:23.:12:27.

scores. Two fantastic scores. The first 40 minutes have been

:12:28.:12:29.

fantastic, we have been riveted watching it and it is spectacular.

:12:30.:12:33.

You've got to applaud Scotland because normally you get a side that

:12:34.:12:37.

dominates one area but not only have they tackled their hearts out, lots

:12:38.:12:40.

of energy spent there. In attack they have been a superb offence as

:12:41.:12:50.

they have defence. We pinpointed Hogg before the game and we were

:12:51.:12:56.

right. He does this for his club team and he keeps doing it and

:12:57.:12:59.

getting better and better. This came after a big build-up from Scotland

:13:00.:13:01.

who started the game particularly well. They were knocking on the

:13:02.:13:06.

door. We felt this pass could have gone out the back earlier behind to

:13:07.:13:12.

Huw Jones but Scotland didn't do that. He is terribly strong in

:13:13.:13:17.

contact, there he is on the outside, Sean Maitland getting frustrated but

:13:18.:13:20.

the rest of the squad keep their composure, built the phases, hold

:13:21.:13:24.

their width, and Stuart Hogg could have scored that, Tommy Seymour

:13:25.:13:28.

could have scored. There is no way he is passing that after the long

:13:29.:13:32.

pass. Two passes covering 35 metres, the bouncing ball, Ringrose trying

:13:33.:13:38.

to get to it. The ball was always just outside, he ended up slipping

:13:39.:13:42.

trying to get to it. The tackle Ringrose try to put in there, so

:13:43.:13:46.

important that Kearney cut off a try when he hit Hogg and when you

:13:47.:13:49.

mistimed it and don't get there in time you get the space. If you go

:13:50.:13:54.

for it you have to make it. When you were playing you have the ability to

:13:55.:13:57.

run very fast and then go a bit quicker and that's what Stuart Hogg

:13:58.:14:07.

did for the second try. It's great to see a player in form come to the

:14:08.:14:10.

international arena and do it and continue to do it. This was a great

:14:11.:14:13.

set move from Scotland. Sorry! The beauty is it is quick ball. Keith

:14:14.:14:18.

Earls is stranded a bit, unsure, the Irish defence is very narrow. Does

:14:19.:14:23.

he go in? Does he go out? Does he stay? He is a bit in a lost land and

:14:24.:14:28.

Scotland attack the width and Hogg gets away. The beauty of the wave

:14:29.:14:34.

Hogg and Maitland set up, in the outside channel if they are not

:14:35.:14:36.

there it makes it easier for Keith Earls but because they are wide they

:14:37.:14:42.

can come straight onto the ball and Hogg blasts over for his second. It

:14:43.:14:45.

was as if the Irish defence got confused by what happened on the

:14:46.:14:49.

previous plate and they were at sixes and sevens, Keith Earls

:14:50.:14:54.

rushing to get into defence, and you have to get the man and ball.

:14:55.:14:57.

Strange to see in international game that space exposure, because

:14:58.:15:02.

Scotland went down the blindside on their next try and it's incredible

:15:03.:15:05.

they are giving them that much space. Quick ball at the breakdown.

:15:06.:15:12.

Both of Scotland's tries have come from quick ball. Looking at the

:15:13.:15:17.

Irish try, Ireland had a penalty at the time anyway so they were

:15:18.:15:19.

probably going to kick from in front of the posts and get three points

:15:20.:15:24.

anyway. How would you evaluate what happened? Should the intercept pass

:15:25.:15:27.

have been taken which would have stopped the try? Initially we felt

:15:28.:15:31.

this was too high for Seymour. It was after 18 phases and penalty

:15:32.:15:36.

advantage. We can see again, maybe he should have stuck but Keith Earls

:15:37.:15:41.

does wonderfully well to finish off. I looked at that and thought Zebo

:15:42.:15:45.

got away with it. I didn't think he was in this early good play, they

:15:46.:15:48.

got away with it, that could have gone the length of the other way but

:15:49.:15:51.

Ireland have forced to many things and haven't been direct enough in

:15:52.:15:55.

the first half. Lucky to get that try. If 18 phases? Ireland haven't

:15:56.:16:01.

been allowed to go through those phases. The defence of Scotland is

:16:02.:16:06.

quick of the line and nailing the one-on-one tackles. If you were

:16:07.:16:10.

watching before the match began we had an interview with Eddie Jones,

:16:11.:16:13.

the England coach, saying the thing about rugby these days was being

:16:14.:16:16.

innovative, coming up with new ideas and foxing your opposition and

:16:17.:16:20.

surprising them. Let's talk about the line-out, lots of people

:16:21.:16:23.

watching, the backs played the backs and forwards play the forwards, so

:16:24.:16:27.

what is Alex Dunbar wearing number 12 doing there? Smoke and mirrors. I

:16:28.:16:31.

guess the Irish would have been thinking the ball is going to the

:16:32.:16:34.

back, they have loaded the Scottish forwards in the back of the

:16:35.:16:38.

line-out. You can see it is a move from the training field and Dunbar

:16:39.:16:43.

reached up and not even jumped, he reached up. The Irish guys at the

:16:44.:16:46.

front of the line-out don't believe it is going to him. What I love

:16:47.:16:50.

about this is at the end of his international career they will say

:16:51.:16:54.

Alex Dunbar, line-out wins 100%, pretty cool. There was a little bit

:16:55.:17:01.

of confusion. Ireland have been stepped off the pace mentally and

:17:02.:17:04.

physically for the whole 40 minutes. That could change at half-time but

:17:05.:17:08.

they really need to get to the pace of the game and they are well off it

:17:09.:17:11.

at the moment. How much are they off the pace because the Scottish

:17:12.:17:14.

defence has been so immense? It has been. A lot of defence is technique

:17:15.:17:19.

and lots of it is raw enthusiasm and passion and Scotland have had both.

:17:20.:17:23.

Coming off line quickly, making big collisions, Sean O'Brien is a big

:17:24.:17:27.

ball carrier so that is a statement of not only intent but also action.

:17:28.:17:30.

Coming forward, Zander Fagerson hitting Rory Best behind the gain

:17:31.:17:36.

line for a five metres behind it. The tackling was fantastic. I think

:17:37.:17:41.

a lot of that is to do with the level love directness and power and

:17:42.:17:44.

pace that Ireland are putting into it. They slowed down into a couple

:17:45.:17:48.

of those tackles and not in the right body position to do it and not

:17:49.:17:51.

in control of the collision. This is more about Scotland's defence and

:17:52.:17:55.

not so much, Ireland, talking about the mind and body, island are a good

:17:56.:18:00.

side and we saw that in the autumn but Scotland have raised the

:18:01.:18:04.

intensity and gone above Ireland. One thing we can be sure of as the

:18:05.:18:07.

match goes on and people get tired the bench has to come into play and

:18:08.:18:11.

the scrum could become a key area. Ireland have complete domination at

:18:12.:18:15.

the moment. When we started watching this, at the start of the game we

:18:16.:18:19.

said, my God, if Ireland have such control at the stage and bring this

:18:20.:18:23.

tempo to the rest of the game they will be in charge but exactly as

:18:24.:18:27.

Jerry has said, this has been the only area where Ireland's attention

:18:28.:18:31.

to detail has been right and where there focus and attitude has been at

:18:32.:18:34.

the required level and Scotland have been off the mark. In all other

:18:35.:18:38.

facets Scotland have tipped the balance. Ireland rely on execution

:18:39.:18:42.

could. The line-out they have lost 50% of, they got into attacking

:18:43.:18:46.

positions and lost the ball, had the ball turned over, it is unlike

:18:47.:18:49.

Ireland but that's because the pressure of the Scottish defence is

:18:50.:18:54.

really getting to them. It is 21-8. We mentioned bonus points and if

:18:55.:19:03.

it's the first time you are watching the Six Nations, today it will be,

:19:04.:19:05.

but if it's the first time you're watching rugby, in the context of

:19:06.:19:08.

the bonus point environment it is worth explaining. Scotland have

:19:09.:19:10.

three tries already and Ireland have scored one. This is how things are

:19:11.:19:13.

different in the Six Nations this year, four points if you win, not

:19:14.:19:17.

just two and a bonus point for scoring four tries and obviously

:19:18.:19:20.

Scotland need one more try to secure a bonus point. The losing team get a

:19:21.:19:25.

bonus point for scoring four tries irrespective of the Final Score.

:19:26.:19:28.

They get a bonus point as well if they lose by less than seven. In the

:19:29.:19:32.

event of a draw it is two points for a

:19:33.:19:44.

draw and a tremendous weekend of Six Nations Rugby.

:19:45.:19:54.

# The revolution will be televised # You can watch it in HD

:19:55.:20:04.

# From the safety of your city # The revolution will be televised

:20:05.:20:13.

# Choose to watch or not # From the safety of our sofas #

:20:14.:20:19.

Women's Six Nations, Sunday at 10:45pm, repeated on Monday also.

:20:20.:20:28.

Ireland beat Scotland last night, Wales narrowly ahead of Italy at the

:20:29.:20:33.

moment and England and France still to be played. So, if you haven't

:20:34.:20:37.

taken at rugby and you think this could be the sport for me this is

:20:38.:20:39.

how you do it. Get inspired is BBC sport's

:20:40.:20:48.

campaign. It is on the BBC sport website and you can find

:20:49.:20:50.

inspirational stories from people just like you, as well as hints,

:20:51.:20:56.

tips as well as over 70 practical guides to help you give something

:20:57.:21:00.

ago. There is an activity finder to help you find something to try near

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you. Just get up, get inspired and get active.

:21:09.:21:14.

Still two more games to come on the opening weekend of the Six Nations

:21:15.:21:20.

and they will all be rounded up for you in Six Nations Rugby special at

:21:21.:21:24.

6pm tomorrow night like the old days on BBC Two and in Scotland at 7pm.

:21:25.:21:29.

The Six Nations match at Twickenham between England and France is live

:21:30.:21:33.

on 5 live at 4:50pm this afternoon. If midway through that you think you

:21:34.:21:40.

fancy a change of sport why notched, not much the Davis Cup. And Usain

:21:41.:21:49.

Bolt and others in the event that is going to transform track and field,

:21:50.:21:55.

so they say, from Melbourne, 2:45pm tomorrow. Let's chat with a Scotsman

:21:56.:21:59.

and Irishman from up in the commentary box, Andy Nicol and Paul

:22:00.:22:03.

O'Connell. You've given a few half-time team talk single time,

:22:04.:22:08.

what would you say now? Ireland have a plan they haven't really stuck to.

:22:09.:22:12.

One of the big things that has been successful for Ireland in the last

:22:13.:22:15.

few years has been their set piece, the line-out has been excellent and

:22:16.:22:18.

they have always been disciplined, they don't give away silly

:22:19.:22:22.

penalties. You look at the line-out that was turned over for the first

:22:23.:22:26.

try, look at Simon Zebo going to the floor, not rolling and rotating and

:22:27.:22:30.

doing the best he can to get the ball back and get a penalty again

:22:31.:22:36.

and Ireland are under pressure. On the five metre drives Ireland have

:22:37.:22:39.

been good at defending five metre drives and good at converting when

:22:40.:22:41.

they get there but today has been the opposite. In many respects line

:22:42.:22:47.

discipline and five metre drives. Andy, Ireland can only get better,

:22:48.:22:51.

does that give you cause for concern?

:22:52.:22:53.

Obviously it does but the challenge for Scotland is to keep the

:22:54.:22:56.

intensity they have both in attack and defence which has been

:22:57.:23:00.

brilliant, attacking intent has been brilliant. Scrummaging aside that is

:23:01.:23:04.

probably Scotland's best of the first-half performance for a long

:23:05.:23:08.

time in every aspect. It is not just attack or in defence, it is both.

:23:09.:23:12.

There is the challenge, to keep it going. It will be an interesting

:23:13.:23:19.

changing room downstairs to what the coaches are saying but it has been

:23:20.:23:23.

an uplifting 40 minutes. The challenge for the neutrals watching

:23:24.:23:26.

is to make the second half every bit as good as the first.

:23:27.:23:32.

The excitement of the Six Nations remains, and we are under way in the

:23:33.:23:41.

2017 RBS Six Nations. Russell pushes it out and Hogg has it and Scotland

:23:42.:23:48.

score. May land outside, Stuart Hogg, it is all the way and two for

:23:49.:23:55.

Hogg. Out wide, Zebo goes for it, Ireland hit back. Sneaky one and it

:23:56.:24:02.

is Dunbar! 21-8, unbelievable first 40 minutes to this year's RBS Six

:24:03.:24:06.

Nations. When you look at the weather and the

:24:07.:24:14.

conditions here that has to be a factor in what has been a fantastic

:24:15.:24:19.

first 40 minutes. The sun is bailing people in the top flight on the far

:24:20.:24:28.

side in winter sunshine. The sun is out, I'm not sure what the

:24:29.:24:31.

temperature will be or how warm it is but it will be warm in the

:24:32.:24:35.

Scottish dressing room. They must stay calm. Coming out for the second

:24:36.:24:37.

half they must keep their accuracy, keep attacking the edge with quick

:24:38.:24:43.

ball. They cannot get overexcited. Keep the accuracy and hope for

:24:44.:24:46.

another 40 minutes from a Scottish perspective like we saw in the first

:24:47.:24:50.

half. It is moments like this when people look at the bench and save in

:24:51.:24:55.

the event of at 60, 65 minutes who are we bringing on? Who are the

:24:56.:24:59.

sides bringing on that might make the change from Ireland's

:25:00.:25:03.

perspective? Ireland seemed to have the stronger and more experienced

:25:04.:25:06.

bench and Scotland have been most vulnerable over the last 12 months

:25:07.:25:10.

in the last ten or 15 minutes. I also think Scotland might keep some

:25:11.:25:13.

players on the field. It depends on how it changes. For me it is all

:25:14.:25:19.

about the attitude, if Ireland can turn it back the other way again, or

:25:20.:25:26.

Scotland stay in the ascendancy, Scotland stopping everything Ireland

:25:27.:25:30.

try and do. You mean Scotland keep players longer on the field than

:25:31.:25:33.

they may have planned to initially? I think so, especially the front row

:25:34.:25:36.

and the props, they have a huge amount of experience at this level.

:25:37.:25:41.

They may want to try and take as much out of their players as they

:25:42.:25:45.

can. Would you be happy with a losing bonus point now? No, no

:25:46.:25:50.

interest in a bonus point. Jerry, final thought, how will it pan out?

:25:51.:25:54.

We talked about Joe Schmidt and how shrewd he is tactically. See how he

:25:55.:26:00.

has changed the Irish tactics for the second half. OK, we got off to a

:26:01.:26:04.

spectacular start, a real flyer, let's hope we have another of the

:26:05.:26:07.

same, back to Andrew Cotter. COMMENTATOR: No changes to either

:26:08.:26:12.

side at half-time but I'm sure there will be a change to the effort and

:26:13.:26:15.

efficiency of Ireland. They will know they are still within two

:26:16.:26:18.

converted tries and they have a little bit of wind at their backs,

:26:19.:26:22.

Hamish Watson, so impressive in the first half, carries. Again it was

:26:23.:26:29.

O'Brien trying to hold him up and Scotland try to dig themselves out

:26:30.:26:35.

of a bit of bother. Here is Hogg. He will not be getting the same

:26:36.:26:39.

distance with his boot in the second half as in the first and that will

:26:40.:26:43.

be a factor. Yeah, definitely, they need to figure out their exit

:26:44.:26:46.

strategy a bit, the first half they went straight back to Stuart Hogg

:26:47.:26:48.

and you could see the Irish defensive line was very quick, some

:26:49.:26:52.

pressure and it came off the side of his foot, so maybe Greig Laidlaw

:26:53.:26:56.

needs to put two up and maybe Finn Russell must take on the pressure of

:26:57.:27:02.

the kicking. Rory Best. This one was a bit of MS. Ford claims it for

:27:03.:27:07.

Scotland. We said no changes, he's still on, as far as I'm aware, a

:27:08.:27:11.

permanent change for Fraser Brown, as I'm aware. Scotland with a

:27:12.:27:18.

chance. Huw Jones trying to scoot his way around Ringrose. Hamish

:27:19.:27:28.

Watson again, a ball of energy. Trying to get the ball back. The

:27:29.:27:32.

referee says penalty to Ireland, good work by the Irish tacklers.

:27:33.:27:40.

Great work on the ground from Sean O'Brien, excellent work. He is a

:27:41.:27:43.

real groundhog of a number seven. He can carry and tackle but also great

:27:44.:27:48.

on the floor as well. Very important penalty. Another line-out for

:27:49.:27:51.

Ireland. This will be sent towards the corner and it may be the start

:27:52.:27:57.

of a long second half for Scotland as Jackson finds his target, 15,

:27:58.:28:04.

perhaps slightly more, metres from the try line. It is quite

:28:05.:28:07.

challenging for Devin Toner. Ireland's back row is the tallest.

:28:08.:28:15.

Brian Wilson, Scotland are tall men and good defenders and putting

:28:16.:28:18.

Ireland under a lot of pressure. Devin Toner. He is the only rugby

:28:19.:28:27.

player... Is he the man to go to? Rory Best. And now try and get the

:28:28.:28:35.

maul going, Scotland shoving them towards touch. Ireland still have

:28:36.:28:41.

that ball. It splinters away and where is the ball? Down to ground it

:28:42.:28:48.

goes. Stand against the power of the blindside flanker of Murray. Heaslip

:28:49.:28:55.

having a think about things. And Ireland getting deeper into the 22

:28:56.:29:00.

now, laid-back by O'Brien and Murray gives it on, Stander once more and

:29:01.:29:03.

Henderson alongside and Tadhg Furlong is there. The bridge there

:29:04.:29:11.

as it is carried and carried further into the 22 and Ireland with a real

:29:12.:29:15.

purpose now. Jackson with good strength laying it back to Murray

:29:16.:29:21.

and now to Tadhg Furlong again. Ireland getting closer and closer

:29:22.:29:25.

right at the start of the second half. Heaslip for Murray again and

:29:26.:29:32.

back to Jack McGrath. Scotland's defence is being sorely tested in

:29:33.:29:36.

the first half early on. Jackson with a little switch. Zebo, easily

:29:37.:29:42.

watched by Scotland, but wide it goes for Ireland. Kearney taken down

:29:43.:29:47.

by Huw Jones. Murray again flings it out. Carried in by Tadhg Furlong

:29:48.:29:52.

onto McGrath, McGrath is looking for support from Stander. Stander. And

:29:53.:29:58.

Ireland getting close again, O'Brien to Best, to Jackson. Advantage to

:29:59.:30:07.

Ireland. The penalty is there as Seymour was in an offside position.

:30:08.:30:12.

But Ireland looking for far more than a penalty here. To Henderson.

:30:13.:30:19.

16, 17 phases now, Toner on his shoulder. Wide to Zebo who spins and

:30:20.:30:26.

drives now. Little bit of a spill, back they will come for that

:30:27.:30:27.

penalty. That was about 20 phases. For the

:30:28.:30:38.

first 15 I thought Ireland were predictable in attack. One or two

:30:39.:30:42.

passes, easy to defend. Then some off-loading and you can see the

:30:43.:30:45.

difference. In, behind the defence and they got close to it. I can see

:30:46.:30:50.

why they are going for a scrum. Scotland need to be careful. Nine

:30:51.:30:55.

penalties already conceded in yellow card territory. It's a big moment

:30:56.:30:59.

for the Scottish scrum. If they can master this, if they can

:31:00.:31:07.

complete the scrum, defend their lines, clear their lines, a massive

:31:08.:31:09.

moment in the match. History would tell you in rugby that

:31:10.:31:16.

look at the two packs, the way it's gone so far, there is a very small

:31:17.:31:20.

chance of Scotland emerging from this without conceding any points.

:31:21.:31:26.

As Andy said, the danger is a penalty try, yellow card, they are

:31:27.:31:30.

all possibilities. You would imagine if I don't have the penalty they

:31:31.:31:33.

would go for a scrum. They are here to stay until they get a try.

:31:34.:31:37.

Russell going off for a head injury assessment. When Henschel carries

:31:38.:31:43.

the ball aggressively. It got bounced off his head. -- when

:31:44.:31:48.

Henschel. I watched him go to the far side. He will be in now to check

:31:49.:31:55.

everything is OK. Scotland desperately need to have him back.

:31:56.:32:00.

Hopefully he can pass this. Doctor Mikel will take a look at him. The

:32:01.:32:04.

elder brother although I can't believe it myself, but he will look

:32:05.:32:10.

at him. Duncan Weir is on. Finn Russell took a bad knock from Zander

:32:11.:32:16.

Fagerson. That's why he wears the headband. Understandable, sensible.

:32:17.:32:21.

He has ten minutes to be assessed. A huge moment in the match. Five

:32:22.:32:25.

minutes gone in the second half. Ireland scrum dominant in the first

:32:26.:32:26.

half. Very interesting. Small disconnect

:32:27.:32:45.

from the way the Scottish front row is pushing and the Scottish second

:32:46.:32:49.

row is pushing. If you look, there's a slight angle between the two and

:32:50.:32:54.

that is causing them problems. Looking from on high, who better to

:32:55.:32:56.

look at things and Paul O'Connell? If we look at this, as it

:32:57.:33:01.

progresses... Got to be a strong connection

:33:02.:33:10.

between front and second row. Scotland have to be strong. A huge

:33:11.:33:16.

moment in the match. Much better. Deep into his own pack, Murray.

:33:17.:33:21.

Upholding at the back. Ireland not making ground at the moment, they

:33:22.:33:26.

have to go through the backs. Rolling forward, Henshaw. Murray is

:33:27.:33:31.

there. Advantage to Ireland. Penalty coming. Another offside. Kearney

:33:32.:33:37.

can't quite make his way to the corner. O'Brien.

:33:38.:33:40.

Ireland looking for the ideal start to the second half. CJ Stander still

:33:41.:33:47.

playing with this, penalty advantage. Murray to Jackson.

:33:48.:33:52.

Henschel spins and shakes off Huw Jones. Picked up by Captain Best.

:33:53.:33:57.

Rory Best within two metres Adam Marriott looking for it. Penalty

:33:58.:34:02.

advantage. He looks both ways. Stander is there. Murray again and

:34:03.:34:07.

for! Can't quite make it. The ball is held up. -- for the line. Penalty

:34:08.:34:15.

advantage but they go over for a try. Iain Henderson dives and

:34:16.:34:22.

schools. -- and scores. Ireland have a try to unite the second half and

:34:23.:34:26.

the comeback is on. They deserve that, they directed the first seven

:34:27.:34:30.

minutes of the second half, knocking on the door so many times. Held

:34:31.:34:35.

firm. Overlong but it was almost the weight of pressure. They got that

:34:36.:34:39.

close and suddenly Iain Henderson is very hard to stop. This is it, at

:34:40.:34:44.

the very end. Good position, you won't stop anyone of that weight

:34:45.:34:47.

coming in when you cannot get under him. Duncan Weir, a huge weight. But

:34:48.:34:53.

no way you will get down below Iain Henderson to stop that. When you get

:34:54.:34:57.

that close to the line, you can be fairly simple in the attack, you

:34:58.:35:01.

don't need the opposition to miss a tackle. All you need to do is make a

:35:02.:35:04.

meter, half a metre and keep accumulating until you get over the

:35:05.:35:09.

line. Paddy Jackson to add the extra two.

:35:10.:35:15.

No mistake, this time, from Jackson. Ireland with that 7-point boost at

:35:16.:35:23.

the start of the second half. We had a real game on our hands at

:35:24.:35:24.

Murrayfield. This isn't helped by the ruling

:35:25.:35:37.

whereby you have to have every part of your body, hands, feet, behind

:35:38.:35:41.

the line from the Scottish and they are really disciplined. Everything

:35:42.:35:44.

is behind the line. It makes it really hard to defend when the

:35:45.:35:48.

attack is just a half a metre away from the line. Duncan Weir is still

:35:49.:35:55.

on for that head injury assessment. Finn Russell. I saw John Barton

:35:56.:36:01.

speaking on as well. He has been outstanding so far, he must

:36:02.:36:05.

watching, 16 tackles. A big influence. -- Hamish Watson. He will

:36:06.:36:13.

be tired. Trying to make his way through. Devin Toner took him by the

:36:14.:36:18.

collar. Everyone is a little person to Devin Toner. Confirmation that

:36:19.:36:20.

Barclay is on. Jones. The ball is stripped away.

:36:21.:36:35.

Dunbar was very sharp to fall upon it. REFEREE: Use it. Ireland

:36:36.:36:42.

starting the more sure in the second half. Ryan Wilson.

:36:43.:36:51.

Just a bit of a thought from Laidlaw before giving it. Seymour. Not quite

:36:52.:36:57.

the same zip around Scotland at the moment.

:36:58.:37:03.

Laidlaw scoops it high. Not much ground on it. A wonderful take it

:37:04.:37:11.

was by Sean Maitland. Scotland make ten, 12 metres that way. The Grays

:37:12.:37:20.

in tandem again. Ritchie to Jonny Load your something again. Duncan

:37:21.:37:26.

Weir sees a bit of space behind Zebo. How is it waited? It's a way

:37:27.:37:30.

to do very well indeed. A beautiful kick by the replacement, Duncan

:37:31.:37:35.

Weir. Great kick and good to see Ireland doing a bit of that in the

:37:36.:37:39.

first half. This is a tough place to defend. A hard place to get out of.

:37:40.:37:44.

You've got to get the line-out call right, when the line-out, win it.

:37:45.:37:50.

That's what Duncan Weir does very well, game management is good and

:37:51.:37:54.

kicking outstanding. That was inch perfect. Finn Russell is just

:37:55.:37:56.

getting some treatment and he will get back. Duncan Weir has put

:37:57.:38:01.

Scotland in a great position. Rory Best once his man.

:38:02.:38:05.

Sophie down for Ireland. -- wants his man. -- safely down. They will

:38:06.:38:14.

try to march a few yards. Penalty, here. Certainly had the potential

:38:15.:38:18.

but it goes up from Murray. Out it goes.

:38:19.:38:23.

The value of that kick, the Scottish attack just outside the 22. You

:38:24.:38:31.

know, you pressure the Irish. REFEREE: Ten coming back. Thank you

:38:32.:38:35.

and good night to Duncan Weir for now. Possibly might return later on.

:38:36.:38:39.

Finn Russell has had a bit of a breather as well. After the

:38:40.:38:44.

assessment. A good cameo from Duncan Weir. But Russell is fine after the

:38:45.:38:48.

assessment. This was why he was off, a collision in the tackle. I watched

:38:49.:38:54.

Andrew. Look at him, he was going to the left. He went all the way to the

:38:55.:38:57.

end of the defensive line to catch his breath and get his senses so he

:38:58.:39:01.

wasn't going to be engaged in any more tackles. Fraud's line-out.

:39:02.:39:08.

Richie Gray gets it down to Laidlaw. Seymour trying to affect the choked

:39:09.:39:12.

tackle, holding up the man of Scotland get to ground. Wilson.

:39:13.:39:16.

Russell and oppression. Hogg frees himself, Stuart Hogg scuttling

:39:17.:39:17.

forward. Scotland is looking for a fourth

:39:18.:39:26.

try. Barclay lays it back. Richie Gray.

:39:27.:39:31.

Laidlaw crowded down the blindside. Russell trying to ease his way

:39:32.:39:35.

through. He gets it to Laidlaw. The ball goes to ground. Land. Jonny

:39:36.:39:39.

Gray comes in. REFEREE: Use it. Fraud set it back for Scotland. --

:39:40.:40:05.

Ford. A thoughtful attack. The phases are a bit slower. A bit

:40:06.:40:10.

steadier, a bit tighter. The forwards are doing their bit. Ross

:40:11.:40:12.

Ford. Towards the edge of the 22, Russell

:40:13.:40:22.

again. A show on Huw Jones but easily enough watched by Jackson and

:40:23.:40:27.

Henderson, the Ulster two. Scotland, plenty of ball, going through the

:40:28.:40:30.

phases, making a bit of ground. Laidlaw. Confusion. Henshaw was in

:40:31.:40:38.

there to strip it. Stander. Scotland have to rush back to defensive

:40:39.:40:41.

duties. Ireland have a chance to counter. It goes wide. Earls almost

:40:42.:40:48.

through. Looking for support. Boasting his way through the

:40:49.:40:52.

tackles. Deep into the Scottish half --

:40:53.:41:02.

ghosting. The ball of the man goes through. Stander is there to set it

:41:03.:41:12.

once more. McGrath tries to slap aside Jonny Gray.

:41:13.:41:15.

Jackson, once more. A loop around. Carried by Sean O'Brien. Sean

:41:16.:41:23.

O'Brien out into fresh air for a moment. Looking around. Ireland,

:41:24.:41:29.

again, threatening the 22. Wide. Earls. A step but no way around Sean

:41:30.:41:32.

Maitland. Earls trying to get it back, which

:41:33.:41:41.

he does. All the menace from Ireland and Ringrose.

:41:42.:41:46.

Still with the men in green. Heaslip once more. WHISTLE

:41:47.:41:54.

And the penalty decision. You could hear the cries of "Sir! Sur! "

:41:55.:42:03.

Penalty, this time. John Barclay got in there, I think it was.

:42:04.:42:08.

Outstanding. This is a different Ireland side in the second half.

:42:09.:42:12.

John Barclay, you can see, solid position, he's on it. Consistent

:42:13.:42:17.

refereeing because a similar one to Sean O'Brien's in the first half.

:42:18.:42:22.

What a different side we have here. Earls has been on the ball, Sean

:42:23.:42:27.

O'Brien has been on the ball. At half-time they have reacted well and

:42:28.:42:31.

that is what good-sized do. They win on the gain line better, big carries

:42:32.:42:36.

generating some big ball. That's what Ireland have done. They play

:42:37.:42:39.

amazing rugby but they generate big ball and you can play with how you

:42:40.:42:44.

like. Gordon Reid is on in the Scottish front row for Allan Dell.

:42:45.:42:50.

It's been a hard afternoon for Dell. There is Gordon

:42:51.:42:52.

. For the last Scottish attack, you saw that the first half, everything

:42:53.:42:59.

touched to gold. They didn't have to go through many phases because they

:43:00.:43:02.

were so effective in what they were doing. When Ireland's defence was

:43:03.:43:07.

good and Scotland's attack not quite there, they tried things. When they

:43:08.:43:10.

did that, the off-load to Tommy Seymour was knocked down at the

:43:11.:43:14.

turnover happened. Amazing, completely contrasting second half

:43:15.:43:18.

to what we saw in the first half. High clearing kick from Finn

:43:19.:43:21.

Russell, you could see it hanging in the breeze. Not too much ground

:43:22.:43:26.

made. A good and dry conditions now in the air. Underfoot it's still a

:43:27.:43:28.

bit slippery. A very different proposition, this

:43:29.:43:36.

second half. Ireland also making a change.

:43:37.:43:39.

Cian Healy comes on. What a man to have in reserve, at loosehead for

:43:40.:43:43.

Jack McGrath. Barclay for Scotland. Scotland's try to get some forward

:43:44.:43:49.

momentum. Russell. Ireland will try to hold them up.

:43:50.:44:09.

But weighty blue shirts come in behind. A carried by Ross Ford.

:44:10.:44:15.

Scotland creeping towards the Irish half. Fagerson. REFEREE: Tackle!

:44:16.:44:22.

Russell. Such a familiar move, try to keep

:44:23.:44:34.

the man in the air. Russell. Chip charge. A chance for Murray if it

:44:35.:44:35.

bounces. Zebo outside but inside it goes.

:44:36.:44:45.

Heaslip for the line. Those only to Maitland, who appeared to save

:44:46.:44:46.

Scotland. Now, Scotland with a clearing kick

:44:47.:44:55.

from Russell, under all sorts of pressure on the Scotland line. If

:44:56.:45:00.

you looked, with Marion's charged down as if it might end in a trifle

:45:01.:45:08.

Heaslip -- Murray's charge down. It was a mistake as if he went to

:45:09.:45:11.

ground and regenerated the ball it would have been a try to Ireland. It

:45:12.:45:15.

was a great read of the ball by Maitland, good defence to work

:45:16.:45:18.

straight back like that and not panic bust you could see he always

:45:19.:45:21.

wanted to off-load the ball to Henshaw but you could take the

:45:22.:45:24.

tackle. At that stage, Maitland it well. Start the potential try

:45:25.:45:33.

happening. -- Maitland read it well. The sound of Murrayfield again and

:45:34.:45:36.

the pressure on Heaslip at the line but Ireland's ball. Zebo.

:45:37.:45:40.

Cian Healy taking it in. Onto the try scorer Conor Henderson.

:45:41.:46:07.

A mixture of cries for Scotland and Ireland. The handoff comes in for

:46:08.:46:17.

Henshaw. The Scottish tackle flying off. Kearney! Kearney borderline!

:46:18.:46:24.

Maitland again the saviour! Thwarted by the score but it had to be the

:46:25.:46:29.

tackle from Maitland. Did he get his man into touch? Again, for the TMO?

:46:30.:46:34.

REFEREE: Any reason I can't award this try? Just check number 15. If

:46:35.:46:39.

he was out of the field when he passed the ball before the

:46:40.:46:44.

grounding, please. Yes, thank you. The TMO is Glenn Newman. Kearney

:46:45.:46:49.

thought he was out. Such a good run down the line. But Maitland, did he

:46:50.:46:53.

save Scotland once more? It looked like a great tackle from here. Jumps

:46:54.:46:59.

into him a wee bit. Is that foot in? Yes, there. But just. Only just!

:47:00.:47:08.

That's great work by Kearney. And then obviously, by Maitland. Great

:47:09.:47:16.

play by Kearney. He was an amazing goal-scorer in 2009. REFEREE: A

:47:17.:47:22.

decision? The player was in touch, line-out, Scotland ball. REFEREE:

:47:23.:47:25.

Thank you very much. Scotland line-out, it is that close to the

:47:26.:47:29.

Scottish line-out. All Irish pressure. That 6-point lead is

:47:30.:47:33.

looking very fragile. Typical line-out. Six points ahead, line-out

:47:34.:47:37.

caller, five metres from your line, a nervous line at -- difficult

:47:38.:47:41.

line-out. They aren't to back. Ford goes long. Straight enough says the

:47:42.:47:47.

referee. Richie Gray was at the back. REFEREE: Use it, blue!

:47:48.:47:56.

Scotland trying to get a few yards further upfield. It's a long way

:47:57.:48:00.

into the wind for a clearing kick. He's dug that out pretty well. Can

:48:01.:48:13.

he get Scotland out of the 22? Ireland will have another

:48:14.:48:17.

opportunity. Sean Maitland, two efforts in the last five minutes.

:48:18.:48:21.

Picked on the wing to score tries but my goodness, what an impact he's

:48:22.:48:26.

had. Two defensive effort, one when he read Jamie Heaslip what he was

:48:27.:48:30.

doing and then a try saver with Rob Kearney. These are the big

:48:31.:48:34.

differences in games like this. Mark Bennett is coming on for Scotland.

:48:35.:48:38.

He's coming on for Huw Jones. The action areas in the second half

:48:39.:48:41.

pretty much tells us, the descending staircase down to the Irish 22. It's

:48:42.:48:47.

all happened in Scotland's half, really. Huw Jones. We expected the

:48:48.:48:52.

miracles that we saw in November. But Mark Bennett, again, useful

:48:53.:48:57.

player to come on in midfield. It highlights Scotland's strength. He

:48:58.:49:00.

lit up the autumn. Mark Bennett has been pulling up trees for Glasgow in

:49:01.:49:07.

the last few weeks. He's in a very familiar role with Finn Russell.

:49:08.:49:10.

Alex Dunbar in the midfield as well. Line-out ball works for Ireland.

:49:11.:49:14.

Henshaw. Henshaw still going. That powerful inside centre. It goes to

:49:15.:49:18.

Devin Toner. Stander. Ireland with Tadhg Furlong, he

:49:19.:49:36.

wanted to see what he could do to defend those in November. Very

:49:37.:49:43.

powerful man. So is Stander. Set it back. Rory Best. Into the final

:49:44.:49:44.

quarter of this match. Stander, one small -- once more.

:49:45.:50:10.

O'Brien. Scotland's defence, again, punching Ireland back. Heaslip wins

:50:11.:50:14.

that contest. Still, the legs drive island on bomb

:50:15.:50:23.

into the 22, again. Cian Healy, this time -- drives Ireland onto the 22.

:50:24.:50:33.

Kearney. Jonny Gray gets to him. Toner stoops down to take that one

:50:34.:50:39.

and feeds Stander. 13 phases. Ireland creeping on again. O'Brien.

:50:40.:50:48.

Murray to Jackson. Ringrose. Up to within ten metres. Murray, again.

:50:49.:50:54.

Jackson is through! Jackson stretches to score. What a try from

:50:55.:50:58.

Ireland! They built and built. They have the try. And the conversion

:50:59.:51:04.

will give them the lead. Super try from Ireland, not a lot of deception

:51:05.:51:07.

to what they are doing at the moment. They are winning the muscle,

:51:08.:51:11.

they are winning the battle up front. A bit show- go from Ringrose

:51:12.:51:17.

got him over the line and then a great line from Paddy Jackson. One

:51:18.:51:21.

. Excellent line-out. A good finish, he did well to finish it. It's a

:51:22.:51:31.

great angle. What that did, just able to benefit from some tired

:51:32.:51:34.

Scottish defence. No wonder, they've had to defend pretty much for the

:51:35.:51:36.

whole second half, 22 minutes. We spoke about the quality of

:51:37.:51:43.

Scotland's tackling in the first half. That has fallen off. I know

:51:44.:51:49.

they put Ireland back a bit there, but they are falling off some

:51:50.:51:52.

tackles. There's a lot more bite to what Ireland are doing. Jackson

:51:53.:51:58.

converts his try to put Ireland in front. The comeback, for the moment,

:51:59.:52:06.

is complete. Again, on the evidence of the second half, no less than

:52:07.:52:11.

Ireland deserve. Scotland 21-5 up we thought it was a long way back for

:52:12.:52:14.

Ireland but they just upped their game in every aspect. No doubt, the

:52:15.:52:18.

second half Ireland have upped their game. Scotland are falling off

:52:19.:52:22.

tackles, lost speed and bite, they need to get it back in the last 70

:52:23.:52:26.

minutes to try to get this victory. -- last 17. Iain Henderson off for

:52:27.:52:34.

Ireland. You can see him in the scrum cap beyond Rory Best. Old hand

:52:35.:52:41.

. Taken well. Trying to hold them up. Looking to get the ball to

:52:42.:52:49.

ground but it comes to devil Toner's giant hands. A chance to clear the

:52:50.:52:58.

lines. Jackson. Maitland waits. Trying to chase down his own kick.

:52:59.:53:03.

Kearney takes it. Almost stripped of the ball but gets it back. Ireland

:53:04.:53:07.

once more with possession. Tadhg Furlong.

:53:08.:53:11.

Murray. Box-kick away. Ireland coming forward but it was into his

:53:12.:53:21.

own mind and Ireland with another opportunity. Bennett got a hand on

:53:22.:53:24.

and Ireland complaint, deliberate knock-on. But it was Ireland's poll

:53:25.:53:29.

anyway. Heaslip. -- Ireland complained. Going forward, Ireland.

:53:30.:53:33.

Stander sets it back. There is Furlong again. A bit of

:53:34.:53:41.

space developing out wide. Henshaw. The ball booted back. The referee

:53:42.:54:03.

says it's fine. Laidlaw gets a chance to play. Nobody back there at

:54:04.:54:07.

the moment for Ireland. Zebo and eight I is looking Maitland trudging

:54:08.:54:12.

forward. -- a tired looking Maitland. The ball was touched in

:54:13.:54:16.

flight it will be island's ball at the line-out. A lots to look at from

:54:17.:54:21.

the last passage of play -- Ireland's ball. They were thinking

:54:22.:54:25.

he was offside but there was no rock, there was a tackle. Edwards

:54:26.:54:28.

calling a penalty but ran into Ryan Wilson. It wasn't Robbie Henshaw

:54:29.:54:35.

that affected the upending. It was Ryan Wilson. Zebo... These last few

:54:36.:54:40.

minutes and sums up the game. Breathless. Both sides really

:54:41.:54:45.

attacking and defending end. To end stuff. Physical. It had everything.

:54:46.:54:47.

-- end to end stuff. Another change about to be...

:54:48.:54:57.

Enacted. Tim Swinson is going to come on in the second row. REFEREE:

:54:58.:55:05.

Green, 11. Seven. Actually, he's going to come on... There's an Irish

:55:06.:55:10.

change as well. Josh van der Flier coming on. Swinson will go on into

:55:11.:55:15.

the back row but he can't play... WHISTLE

:55:16.:55:21.

There is Sean O'Brien. A very effective game from O'Brien and his

:55:22.:55:24.

latest comeback from injury. To the line-out we go. Devin Toner takes it

:55:25.:55:31.

for island. The line-out has looked solid for Ireland in the second-half

:55:32.:55:35.

-- takes for Ireland. Into the final 15 minutes.

:55:36.:55:40.

Scotland have to find some of that verve they had in the first half.

:55:41.:55:46.

Ireland have worked their way back in so well. Best.

:55:47.:55:53.

REFEREE: Six away, no! Thank you. You are just in front. Murray gets a

:55:54.:56:01.

kick away in front. A wonderful take by Finn Russell but strips. Laidlaw

:56:02.:56:07.

hurls himself upon the fire half. Ireland with ball again -- upon the

:56:08.:56:11.

fly half. Taken by Finn Russell almost in midair.

:56:12.:56:15.

REFEREE: Off, feet, off, feet! Second time. Henshaw gives it on to

:56:16.:56:24.

Jackson. How well he's played, Jackson. A bit of a poke forward.

:56:25.:56:29.

Hogg watches. Nothing to be done but taken into touch by Earls. Ireland

:56:30.:56:35.

playing so strong. So much talk about sex and missing but Paddy

:56:36.:56:37.

Jackson has been inspirational in the second half. -- about Sexton

:56:38.:56:42.

missing. Great to keep it in play. So that girls could make the tackle

:56:43.:56:45.

and put him into touch. It is Ireland line-out will stop -- so

:56:46.:56:51.

that Earls could make the tackle. They tried to play a novel lot of

:56:52.:56:54.

game with ball in hand but didn't push it into corners like that. --

:56:55.:57:00.

an awful lot of game with ball in hand. They had been so good in the

:57:01.:57:02.

second-half,. WHISTLE This could be the game. 1-point

:57:03.:57:11.

lead, if Ireland take this over, Scotland have had nothing in the

:57:12.:57:15.

second half. It is hard to stop this. They need to defend this

:57:16.:57:19.

line-out and not let Ireland get any further away. Earls coming off and

:57:20.:57:24.

Tommy Bowe on for Ireland. To earn his 68th cap. Ireland long from

:57:25.:57:32.

Best. Toner taken and then fed on to Ultan Dillane. Swinson falls upon

:57:33.:57:38.

it. Scotland... We'll have a scrum if they wanted. I'm not sure if they

:57:39.:57:44.

do want that. -- Scotland will have. Maitland. Deep inside their own 22.

:57:45.:57:47.

Good work from Maitland from a dangerous position.

:57:48.:57:54.

Again, the clearance. This time from Hogg. This one being watched and

:57:55.:58:01.

taken by Tommy Bowe. First touch for the Ulsterman.

:58:02.:58:09.

Furlong. One -- once more. Ringrose had a look around from Jackson.

:58:10.:58:24.

Space appears. A loose pass from Kearney. A rare mistake.

:58:25.:58:29.

Offering the option to Laidlaw. Scrum and line-out. All day long and

:58:30.:58:39.

twice on Sunday! This is the line they had to defend. Watch John

:58:40.:58:44.

Barclay defend this very, very well. It gets in there. He disrupts this.

:58:45.:58:48.

Made a good decision. Wasn't offside. That's exactly what needed

:58:49.:58:52.

to happen. Once the line-out goes over the 15, the line-out is over.

:58:53.:58:56.

He is thinking a bit faster than everybody else. Great play by him,

:58:57.:59:00.

massive turnover to get possession. Seven metres from your line.

:59:01.:59:04.

There's been such a great success at Scarlett 's. Heading down there.

:59:05.:59:12.

Perhaps been overlooked in the international wilderness a bit.

:59:13.:59:15.

Jonny Gray is tackling back. That's unbelievable. Northern Irish player.

:59:16.:59:25.

Hamish Watson went off after 50 minutes and made 16 pretty much in

:59:26.:59:34.

the first half. A huge defensive effort required. They are only one

:59:35.:59:39.

points down. The attack was so good in the first half, that defensive

:59:40.:59:42.

effort has allowed them to still be in this game with 11 minutes to go.

:59:43.:59:46.

How much has it taken out of them, that's the problem. Maybe those

:59:47.:59:49.

numbers are the reasons we are seeing them falling off tackles. But

:59:50.:59:52.

to see Raphael Varane tears watching the game. -- it is good to see

:59:53.:59:56.

Raphael Varane . Big fan of Scottish rugby,

:59:57.:00:05.

wouldn't miss this game. Needing the final ten minutes. Tadhg Furlong off

:00:06.:00:10.

and Ryan is on, impressive for Munster this season.

:00:11.:00:14.

Once more, Scotland on the back foot.

:00:15.:00:24.

Ireland very much in control. Zebo spinning away.

:00:25.:00:35.

Henshaw is flung to the turf by Ford. Cian Healy. Still all Ireland

:00:36.:00:50.

in the middle. The dummy runner, the Murrayfield crowd cries obstruction.

:00:51.:00:52.

The penalty to Scotland. Here we are, guys. Ten minutes to

:00:53.:01:08.

go, one point ball game, we thought it would be tight, maybe not in the

:01:09.:01:13.

circumstances the way the game has panned out, Scotland getting bullied

:01:14.:01:16.

and Ireland coming back. Ten minutes to go, Greig Laidlaw needs to get

:01:17.:01:22.

the guys together like he is doing now, getting the players together

:01:23.:01:27.

and saying, "One bit of inspiration, one big hit, one good angle could be

:01:28.:01:32.

the difference." That is all that is required now. It doesn't need to be

:01:33.:01:36.

spectacular at the line-out, doesn't need to be over the 15 like Ireland

:01:37.:01:40.

did, the main thing they need is possession.

:01:41.:01:45.

Scotland right on the Irish 22. A single point in it. Taken eventually

:01:46.:01:59.

by Barclays for Scotland. -- Barclay. Probably too long to go on

:02:00.:02:08.

the clock to think penalties or drop goals, a long way to go in this

:02:09.:02:14.

match. Ford carrying foot Scotland, Swinson, and onto Fagerson. Now

:02:15.:02:27.

Russell. The clash from Bennett, struggling to get the ball back, and

:02:28.:02:34.

now he does. Tense times for both sides as Barclay takes it in.

:02:35.:02:41.

Penalty to Scotland with eight minutes to go, and a reasonably

:02:42.:02:44.

straightforward kick for Greig Laidlaw. I was literally just

:02:45.:02:50.

thinking to myself how good the discipline in defence has been from

:02:51.:03:00.

Ireland has been today. It could be crucial. They have an opportunity.

:03:01.:03:04.

They looked in control in defence but they have given away a penalty.

:03:05.:03:11.

Vern Cotter, a few instructions passed down from on high.

:03:12.:03:20.

It's very difficult to get out of there, very difficult to get out of

:03:21.:03:27.

there. But you have two. This is the difference, Ireland had their

:03:28.:03:31.

opportunity seven metres away two minutes ago and came away with zero

:03:32.:03:35.

points. Murrayfield will fall silent now for Greig Laidlaw, three from

:03:36.:03:38.

three so far. Through it goes and seven minutes

:03:39.:03:54.

and perhaps a little bit more remaining at Murrayfield and

:03:55.:03:59.

Scotland lead once again. Those will be a very long seven minutes for

:04:00.:04:02.

those Scottish fans. Very much against the run of play. They have

:04:03.:04:08.

kept themselves in it with their defence. Now the restart is so

:04:09.:04:13.

important and Barclay takes it in a bit of room. He's been strong since

:04:14.:04:14.

he came on. Gray, Jonny Gray gets to ground. So

:04:15.:04:26.

Ireland into the territory of looking for any sort of penalty or

:04:27.:04:32.

drop goal attempt. They need that ball first. The clearing kick from

:04:33.:04:44.

Hogg. Jackson. And Kearney. Claimed by his opposite number Hogg, Irish

:04:45.:04:49.

ball again. Zebo. There is Josh Van der Flier. The tackle comes in from

:04:50.:05:01.

Fagerson on Cian Healy. And Ireland again on the front foot, now through

:05:02.:05:08.

John Ryan, Jackson, inside ball to Zebo.

:05:09.:05:16.

Stander. Scotland turn it over and have a chance to counter, Laidlaw

:05:17.:05:22.

decides to put boot on ball, and reading it well was Kearney. He got

:05:23.:05:32.

back in time. Now altered Heaslip. -- on to Heaslip. Some tired looking

:05:33.:05:36.

men out there heading into the last five minutes. Rory Best. Murray to

:05:37.:05:45.

Toner, Toner with a loose one and Barclay trying to get up there,

:05:46.:05:49.

Henshaw evades the tackle and does well.

:05:50.:05:57.

Stander once again. Five minutes on the clock. So, Conor Murray sends it

:05:58.:06:11.

to the heavens, taken by Hogg, Hogg sees what is available, Hogg looking

:06:12.:06:15.

for a run himself onto Bennett, Bennett chips and the chase is on,

:06:16.:06:19.

sitting up for Conor Murray, the scrum-half is under pressure, being

:06:20.:06:24.

watched by Bennett, gives it onto Zebo and he fires it down the line,

:06:25.:06:28.

great kick from Zebo. He had no angle to go for touch, Hogg again,

:06:29.:06:34.

Murrayfield is roaring, lives it up to Zebo who was hit hard by Henshaw.

:06:35.:06:44.

Fagerson tries to get it to ground and just falls. Listen to the crowd

:06:45.:06:57.

now as Wilson carries. Jonny Gray. And beyond now to four

:06:58.:07:06.

minutes, Ireland looking for something. But still Scotland and

:07:07.:07:10.

Richie Gray, and onto Finn Russell, space out wide, delaying the pass,

:07:11.:07:15.

stepping to Dunbar, Dunbar taking him around the neck and the penalty

:07:16.:07:18.

is coming but it is still there for Scotland. Spilled by Barclay,

:07:19.:07:25.

Barclay will come back for that penalty. I love the ambition from

:07:26.:07:33.

Scotland. Let's see what they are saying. Just a penalty, I think, is

:07:34.:07:40.

the instruction. I'd like to see this again because we know the

:07:41.:07:46.

directives, any time it is a high tackle you immediately think yellow.

:07:47.:07:53.

I love the fact they still have ambition. It started low and it has

:07:54.:07:57.

gone up. As Wayne Barnes said before the game, is it high? I don't think

:07:58.:08:07.

there is any force or any speed in that. It is still poor. Putting

:08:08.:08:15.

themselves under pressure now, Ireland, they will probably have to

:08:16.:08:19.

defend a five metre line-out, it is a long way to get back up the pitch.

:08:20.:08:23.

If you're wondering what the difference is, a reckless tackle

:08:24.:08:27.

would have been a yellow card, that was more of an accidental tackle

:08:28.:08:30.

deemed to be below the line and moved up onto the neck and that can

:08:31.:08:34.

be sanctioned, but no yellow card in this instance. I think that was

:08:35.:08:43.

borderline in every sense. The decision from Scotland was not to

:08:44.:08:46.

take the three points that could have moved them beyond a penalty

:08:47.:08:52.

clear, or a drop kick clear, and go for the corner. Huge decision. It is

:08:53.:08:57.

a good decision, I think, three minutes left on the clock, five

:08:58.:09:00.

metres out, great kick to the corner, didn't leave them eight

:09:01.:09:03.

metres out, five metres, exactly where they want to be, a long way

:09:04.:09:08.

for Ireland up the field. Under pressure but the safe man, deciding

:09:09.:09:20.

to defender driving maul. There is a deep guttural cry from the

:09:21.:09:22.

Murrayfield crowd to keep this going. Romain Poite. Scotland

:09:23.:09:29.

looking for their first opening weekend when sins against France in

:09:30.:09:41.

2006. -- since. Still with Scotland, looking to close down the game. They

:09:42.:09:46.

would love a try. The bonus point is perhaps for another day. They need

:09:47.:09:53.

victory. Ryan Wilson carries. Still there for Scotland. Two minutes to

:09:54.:09:59.

go. It is just the forwards at close quarters carrying. Fancy rugby has

:10:00.:10:08.

gone for Scotland now. It's all about safe, sensible, clinical

:10:09.:10:15.

stuff. Taken in by Ross Ford. Two minutes is a long time to run the

:10:16.:10:18.

game out like this. There is always a penalty, always a long way to

:10:19.:10:26.

close the game off. Now overcarry by Swinson, makes some good ground. The

:10:27.:10:30.

ball is still there for Scotland. Penalty to Scotland as well.

:10:31.:10:38.

Ireland's chances slipping away here. You suspect with just over a

:10:39.:10:43.

minute gone that it may be done for the visitors. You would expect the

:10:44.:10:50.

penalty have gone the other way of defeat in Iraq, hands in the ruck,

:10:51.:10:58.

but it shows the knowledge -- in the ruck. This is a good call. They let

:10:59.:11:06.

the clock get over 79 minutes, so now if Greig Laidlaw goes for goal

:11:07.:11:12.

and misses it and it goes dead it is game over and Scotland still win.

:11:13.:11:18.

Greig Laidlaw could effectively put it into the stands. It was a poor

:11:19.:11:23.

attempt, I will grant you. He is allowed a minute to take it. It is

:11:24.:11:29.

game over. Whatever he does now he is absolutely going to hit the

:11:30.:11:33.

leather of the ball. Man of the match quickly before this kick?

:11:34.:11:37.

There have been so many good players for me but he lit up the first half,

:11:38.:11:41.

quiet second-half, but my obvious Six Nations man of the match is

:11:42.:11:46.

Stuart Hogg. Stuart Hogg, the man of the match and man of the moment,

:11:47.:11:50.

Greig Laidlaw, to the strains of Flower Of Scotland, with this final

:11:51.:11:53.

kick. It is good from Greig Laidlaw, it is

:11:54.:12:05.

great from Scotland because they have won, they have beaten Ireland

:12:06.:12:10.

in the opening match of this RBS Six Nations and the celebrations, not

:12:11.:12:17.

just for this win, but for many, many years of hard graft for

:12:18.:12:22.

Scotland and disappointment. It is all celebration for Scotland. Deep

:12:23.:12:25.

disappointment for Ireland but this is Vern Cotter's moment and these

:12:26.:12:32.

are Scotland's moments. Fantastic victory, the penalty from the

:12:33.:12:35.

captain Greig Laidlaw, he knew he had nailed it, look at that,

:12:36.:12:38.

fantastic moment from Greig Laidlaw but what an effort by the whole

:12:39.:12:42.

Scotland team because what an attacking performance in the first

:12:43.:12:45.

half and defensive effort in the second half that allowed them to win

:12:46.:12:49.

this game. That was Ireland's game for the taking in the second half

:12:50.:12:52.

because they were so dominant. They gave themselves a massive mountain

:12:53.:12:56.

to climb, conceding three tries inside of half an hour, but fair

:12:57.:13:00.

play to them, they go back into the game. The inaccuracies that were

:13:01.:13:04.

there in the first half crept back in towards the end of the game. We

:13:05.:13:08.

don't associate that with the Irish team, we associate them with a hack

:13:09.:13:15.

you, highly accurate line-out, with ball in hand, and it's an easy fix

:13:16.:13:18.

for Ireland but great result for Scotland. All of the talk will be

:13:19.:13:24.

about how many Scottish Lions we are going to have. These games can flip

:13:25.:13:29.

very quickly. What you don't often see is the momentum shift as you saw

:13:30.:13:33.

in the last ten minutes. I thought Ireland had got the momentum and

:13:34.:13:36.

were just going to sweep through the rest of the second half and win the

:13:37.:13:40.

game, so fair play to Scotland to stop the momentum, turn it around

:13:41.:13:44.

and come down and get two penalties and win the game. I wonder why John

:13:45.:13:48.

Barclay wasn't fitted a Betfair play-off the bench, that turnover,

:13:49.:13:52.

seven metres from the Irish line where he thought a bit quicker than

:13:53.:13:54.

everyone else made a massive difference to the Scottish effort,

:13:55.:14:03.

conceded a penalty and it was game over. Ireland go to Rome next

:14:04.:14:06.

weekend and Scotland are in Paris, promising Six Nations start for

:14:07.:14:10.

Scotland at the end of a very long winter. Two tries in the first half

:14:11.:14:14.

from Stuart Hogg sent Scotland on their way to victory, the man of the

:14:15.:14:20.

match is talking to Sonia. Do you think that's the best opening match

:14:21.:14:25.

of the Six Nations? It was a cracking game we switched off a wee

:14:26.:14:28.

bit at the start of the second-half but the boys are delighted to kick

:14:29.:14:32.

off the Six Nations with a wink and there is no better place to do it

:14:33.:14:37.

than Murrayfield. 17 points, having built such a strong lead, what were

:14:38.:14:43.

you thinking? I've no idea, the boys were outstanding in the second-half.

:14:44.:14:46.

Defensively we had to be on the money all the time and the boys were

:14:47.:14:50.

delighted to come away with that one. Scotland's leading try scorer

:14:51.:14:55.

in the Six Nations championship with two today. Did you ever believe that

:14:56.:14:59.

accolade would come your way? I was putting very good possessions by my

:15:00.:15:03.

team and it was just a case of finishing off. Down to the boys

:15:04.:15:07.

upfront giving us a good platform and the excellent backs out wide, in

:15:08.:15:11.

the right place at the right time. You are being very modest, you are

:15:12.:15:16.

the RBS Six Nations man of the match, well done. Thanks very much.

:15:17.:15:18.

CHEERING A famous afternoon for a famous old

:15:19.:15:27.

stadium, as you look at the statistics and I will give you

:15:28.:15:33.

another one, Scotland warily in the Irish 22 47% of whole second-half --

:15:34.:15:39.

were only in. In the course of the second half we were going through

:15:40.:15:43.

the stats about what is the record for the most points that people led

:15:44.:15:46.

by and then lost but it didn't happen in the end. Let's hear from

:15:47.:15:50.

the Irish captain. Rory, a penny for your thoughts,

:15:51.:15:54.

because you seemed to have all of that momentum in the second half.

:15:55.:16:01.

The way we started the game cost us, we knew they were a quality outfit

:16:02.:16:05.

and they started the game as we thought they would with lots of

:16:06.:16:07.

emotion and momentum and we were not good enough to stop it. I think we

:16:08.:16:11.

fought back really well to get back into the lead in the second-half.

:16:12.:16:15.

Ultimately, in a game the Six Nations away from home if you start

:16:16.:16:20.

with a gap you are always going to get against it and it proved the

:16:21.:16:25.

case. Why did you get off to a slow start? We have got to give credit to

:16:26.:16:28.

them, they came out of the box really well and we made a few

:16:29.:16:31.

uncharacteristic errors and didn't execute the way we wanted to and

:16:32.:16:34.

probably were not good enough with a couple of line-outs. We had

:16:35.:16:38.

opportunities to get hold of the game early on and didn't take them

:16:39.:16:42.

and they did and they created a couple of chances and scored. Seemed

:16:43.:16:46.

to be every time they got the ball at one point. It was frustrating and

:16:47.:16:50.

the second-half was a lot more like it but we are hugely disappointed

:16:51.:16:53.

that when we took the lead we did not close it out. Well done today.

:16:54.:16:59.

For what it's worth, there is the first table of the RBS Six Nations

:17:00.:17:05.

in 2017. What it is worth is that is a bit of history, there is a losing

:17:06.:17:08.

bonus point for the first time in the history of the RBS Six Nations.

:17:09.:17:14.

Just what I've always wanted! Let's go back to Sonia. That's the first

:17:15.:17:19.

time since 2006 you've won your opening match in the Six Nations

:17:20.:17:21.

championship. What does that mean to you and your

:17:22.:17:28.

team? You can hear what it means to everybody.

:17:29.:17:30.

CHEERING To get the win with everybody

:17:31.:17:33.

singing the national anthem is what it is all about. Vern Cotter told us

:17:34.:17:39.

we are going to win it because we are bloody-minded and we have done

:17:40.:17:42.

it today. You struggled to close out a big game against Australia in the

:17:43.:17:46.

autumn. How far has the Scotland team come that you managed to do it

:17:47.:17:49.

today? We have come on leaps and bounds we in and week out and we

:17:50.:17:52.

played well against Australia in November and Argentina we got the

:17:53.:17:56.

win and we are over the Moon today with this result. Coach Vern Cotter

:17:57.:18:02.

said he was targeting two wins in the Six Nations championship. You

:18:03.:18:05.

have just rolled over Ireland. Are you going to revise that now? Just

:18:06.:18:10.

listen to Vern Cotter and whatever he says goes. Well done. Thank you

:18:11.:18:14.

very much. Well, the price of those Island-

:18:15.:18:22.

England grandson tickets in Dublin have suddenly plummeted -- Ireland.

:18:23.:18:26.

The Scottish Grand Slam is on. What an opening game of the RBS Six

:18:27.:18:32.

Nations this year and it had everything, Scotland off to a great

:18:33.:18:35.

start, what a comeback by Ireland in the second half, and the courage of

:18:36.:18:39.

Scotland to come out and win with six tries, huge out of effort from

:18:40.:18:42.

both sides and it's great to see Greig Laidlaw and Stuart Hogg

:18:43.:18:48.

engaging with the fans, listen to the reception. Scotland go to France

:18:49.:18:50.

next weekend but for now we talk about this game because it was a

:18:51.:18:54.

cracker. How often have we been in Murrayfield and had to complain

:18:55.:18:58.

about Scotland not taking their chances? Today, for 80 minutes,

:18:59.:19:01.

whenever they got a chance they scored. That is incredible accuracy.

:19:02.:19:08.

They made twice as many tackles as Ireland and kept composure until the

:19:09.:19:11.

end, none more so than the captain. Every time you push the ball down

:19:12.:19:17.

you think it will sail between the posts. That's the point you made,

:19:18.:19:21.

everybody said it would be a tight match but goal-kicking, talk about

:19:22.:19:24.

all the fancy moves in the world and bonus points for tries but

:19:25.:19:27.

goal-kicking can be so fundamental. Greig Laidlaw, the man in the

:19:28.:19:32.

picture now, is absolutely metronomic clean reliable. He and

:19:33.:19:36.

Leigh Halfpenny are the best UK penalty kick is in the world. They

:19:37.:19:44.

are in the mid-80s. He is overjoyed, as is the team and the Scottish

:19:45.:19:52.

supporters. They have won a game that is so important for the first

:19:53.:19:55.

time in ten years, to win the opening game, it is money mental for

:19:56.:19:59.

Scotland. The expectation is high and now they are on the road to

:20:00.:20:03.

possibly winning something really concrete. I always think when you

:20:04.:20:08.

look at Laidlaw he always grumpy. Well, you play rugby to win, he's

:20:09.:20:13.

winning and he has been smiling from the start, almost as if the whole

:20:14.:20:16.

team thought they had a really good chance today and they have backed it

:20:17.:20:20.

up to the end. We did say he looked very relaxed and full of himself

:20:21.:20:23.

before the game when he was introducing the team to Princess

:20:24.:20:26.

Anne and that was replicated on the field of play. Nobody epitomised

:20:27.:20:31.

that better than Stuart Hogg, talk about his two tries in the first

:20:32.:20:34.

half. Wiesberger that him and highlighted him before the game as

:20:35.:20:38.

well and he always delivers. This is after a good number of phases,

:20:39.:20:42.

Scotland keeping their width and patience, and they got fortunate

:20:43.:20:45.

with the long pass bouncing up into Stuart Hogg's hands but he has to be

:20:46.:20:49.

in the right position to score. Tommy Seymour was outside putting

:20:50.:20:53.

Garry Ringrose in a difficult place. This was his second try, look at

:20:54.:20:57.

Earls, doesn't know whether to come in all come out, Ireland's defence

:20:58.:21:04.

is narrow but Hogg in the outside channel and Hogg knows as soon as he

:21:05.:21:08.

has a defender turning his back he has the exploration to take the

:21:09.:21:11.

space. We love to see a try scorer like that, great ball, quick ball

:21:12.:21:16.

into the middle, and use the space, spot the space and run into it,

:21:17.:21:21.

beautiful. You were critical of certain areas of Ireland's play,

:21:22.:21:25.

especially in the first half. Talk through the try that Scotland scored

:21:26.:21:28.

from the line-out from the Irish perspective. Attitude wise I thought

:21:29.:21:34.

Ireland were off the pace, there is no attention, nobody looking, they

:21:35.:21:38.

are thinking, who can we number up beside and instead there is a centre

:21:39.:21:42.

standing three men in and nobody looking at him and where it is

:21:43.:21:45.

going, thinking maybe there is going to be a drive at the back of the

:21:46.:21:49.

line-out. Furlong was looking at the back of the line-out, his face was

:21:50.:21:52.

looking at the number eight rather than ahead of him. Best is looking

:21:53.:21:56.

the other way, that is OK but you have to take a quick glance to

:21:57.:21:59.

double-check that spaces in there. Great innovation from Scotland.

:22:00.:22:03.

Sometimes your brain just isn't up to speed and Ireland in that period

:22:04.:22:07.

of time were just off the mark. It's getting very loud here. I will

:22:08.:22:12.

correct that, it has got very loud here. In the second of Ireland had

:22:13.:22:16.

all of the possession. Looking at the little bored down here, 70%

:22:17.:22:19.

position in the second half, and for the period between 45 minutes and 70

:22:20.:22:24.

minutes you could almost see no way that Ireland wouldn't win the match,

:22:25.:22:32.

so how did they? -- didn't they? They played with intensity and

:22:33.:22:35.

played with full composure. They played far more direct and

:22:36.:22:40.

incredibly well. Three or four line breaks in the period of time that

:22:41.:22:45.

with no composure at that stage, intercepted and sloppy little pass,

:22:46.:22:49.

Sean O'Brien in here, great line, great run, look at Conor Murray, has

:22:50.:22:56.

to pop off and doesn't. With such fine margins, they were in such

:22:57.:22:59.

ascendancy, I don't even think they believed they were going to lose

:23:00.:23:03.

either. You have to take this chances in the championship. With

:23:04.:23:06.

momentum like this is the points have to go on Tillous-Borde and you

:23:07.:23:09.

must take advantage of the situation. Good press, Murray,

:23:10.:23:16.

should he give it to Zebo? Huge chance. But Ireland in the autumn

:23:17.:23:18.

would have had composure and patience and would have scored from

:23:19.:23:22.

these positions. They were a little bit rattled, which I wouldn't expect

:23:23.:23:25.

from an experienced side. Again, credit to Scotland holding out in

:23:26.:23:31.

this period of play, it won them the game, I feel. Even on this line,

:23:32.:23:36.

great play from Kearney, I thought Kearney had a right go at the game,

:23:37.:23:40.

one of the few Irish players who upped his leadership level to get

:23:41.:23:45.

his team to follow. Look at that, on such fine margins. Left cheek into

:23:46.:23:49.

touch. It is only the second time in the history of the Six Nations that

:23:50.:23:52.

Scotland have won their opening match. What a lift, you can hear it

:23:53.:24:00.

and feel it and sends what it means to the game, perhaps. It does. And a

:24:01.:24:04.

line that to how well Edinburgh and Glasgow do in European competition

:24:05.:24:09.

and Glasgow in the domestic competition, the last time was 2006

:24:10.:24:13.

against France and it was a Sunday and half full and two driving maul

:24:14.:24:17.

tries, and this is a completely different kettle of fish, great

:24:18.:24:21.

rugby, fantastic comeback from Ireland but Scotland must now look

:24:22.:24:24.

ahead to next week and build on that. Out next week pans out will

:24:25.:24:29.

depend largely on how France play against England at Twickenham later

:24:30.:24:33.

this afternoon. In your mind are you getting images of Gregor Townsend

:24:34.:24:36.

and Gavin Hastings and that famous victory all those years ago? A lot

:24:37.:24:40.

will depend on what happens at Twickenham, we have all played

:24:41.:24:43.

against France and they can be world beaters, or they could be flattered

:24:44.:24:46.

to deceive, so a lot will depend on the game later this evening. Here is

:24:47.:24:50.

a very happy man with Sonia. Sorry to keep you. Vern what does it

:24:51.:24:57.

say about how far your team has come that they were able to withstand

:24:58.:24:59.

that Irish onslaught in the second half?

:25:00.:25:02.

When there was one point in it towards the end I suppose everybody

:25:03.:25:06.

thought it was going to be another similar scenario. But the guys have

:25:07.:25:11.

learned and improved and we managed to claw our way back in at the end

:25:12.:25:15.

of there. I think it is a great win for them. I think it will validate a

:25:16.:25:19.

lot of the work they have been doing. I am just really happy. It is

:25:20.:25:26.

quite a nice feeling, to be honest. I can imagine it is. How big is this

:25:27.:25:31.

result for Scotland given a few close games have escaped them? Yeah,

:25:32.:25:38.

it has. Australia was another 1-point game and we sneaked through

:25:39.:25:43.

a game with Argentina. The players are genuinely finding ways to win

:25:44.:25:47.

games. I thought for a while we had found a way to get ourselves in

:25:48.:25:51.

trouble again for a while. We dominated the first half and I

:25:52.:25:54.

thought they dominated a large part of the second half. It just shows,

:25:55.:25:58.

there was composure at the end and we managed to get what we wanted. It

:25:59.:26:04.

has been a while since we have had a winning the first game of the Six

:26:05.:26:08.

Nations. I think that will create a real positive dynamic moving

:26:09.:26:12.

forward. There was a time when Scotland couldn't hit a barn door at

:26:13.:26:15.

five paces and couldn't score and there you are, three tries before

:26:16.:26:19.

half-time. You are living in dreamland. I suppose if you are

:26:20.:26:22.

going to be critical you'd want to get another couple in the second

:26:23.:26:25.

half so that is something we can look forward to and to move forward

:26:26.:26:29.

on when we come together early in the week. There was some good

:26:30.:26:34.

attacking play. My coaches are working hard and finding ways to

:26:35.:26:39.

improve players. I think it is a great team effort from everybody.

:26:40.:26:42.

You said before the championship you are targeting two wins, might you

:26:43.:26:47.

revise that now? Look, no, that is one, we are really happy, but I

:26:48.:26:51.

think the players will decide what they want to do from here on in. If

:26:52.:26:57.

we could get another one that would be great. Will you have a beer with

:26:58.:26:59.

Joe Schmidt because you finally got one over on him? Yeah, I might do, a

:27:00.:27:06.

quiet one. You are obviously very good friends. Let's bring the

:27:07.:27:10.

aforementioned Mr Joe Schmidt into proceedings here because he is just

:27:11.:27:14.

coming round the corner. Joe, come and join your old friend Vern

:27:15.:27:20.

Cotter. You can shake hands. He's finally got one over on you. What

:27:21.:27:24.

did Scotland get right today that Ireland didn't? They got a flying

:27:25.:27:30.

start, a really impressive start. Vern Cotter has obviously done some

:27:31.:27:35.

great work with them. Just a little line-out play. We were a little bit

:27:36.:27:39.

passive and naive, I think, and it was really disappointing but at the

:27:40.:27:44.

same time I felt we clawed our way back into the game and to get ahead

:27:45.:27:49.

at 22-21 and having couple of really good chances to put the game the way

:27:50.:27:53.

up the middle when Jamie Heaslip carried and down the wing when Rob

:27:54.:27:58.

Kearney carried we got very close to getting away on them but when you

:27:59.:28:01.

don't get away from a team playing at home and have so much to play for

:28:02.:28:05.

you are always at risk of them coming back and maybe getting

:28:06.:28:09.

something in the end. Thank you for your time, Joe. We are running out

:28:10.:28:13.

of it! One or two other things to tell you

:28:14.:28:17.

about, not least Six Nations Rugby special tomorrow at 6pm, 7pm in

:28:18.:28:22.

Scotland, the women's Six Nations round-up is at 10:45pm, first time

:28:23.:28:26.

out tomorrow night, and more matches to happen over the course of the

:28:27.:28:29.

weekend, not least England against France live on Radio 5 live at

:28:30.:28:35.

4:50pm. Listen to it on the radio while watching the doubles in the

:28:36.:28:38.

Davis Cup from Canada, it is 1-1 at the moment, Jamie Murray and Dom

:28:39.:28:42.

Inglot will be playing in that match. We have 30 seconds. Ten

:28:43.:28:46.

seconds on England against France, who will win? England at home, so

:28:47.:28:53.

strong at Twickenham. England. They are on a high at home and rarely

:28:54.:28:57.

lose at home. Wales against Italy tomorrow? It will be a big challenge

:28:58.:29:03.

for Wales, 13 versus fifth in the world but it will be a tough gig.

:29:04.:29:10.

Wales. I will go for the red of Wales. It is fair to say that in

:29:11.:29:13.

advance we all knew this was the game to beat at this weekend and it

:29:14.:29:18.

suddenly turned out that way. Has the bar ever been set that high for

:29:19.:29:22.

the opening match of a Six Nations championship? Thanks for watching

:29:23.:29:26.

and we will see you in Cardiff next weekend. Bye bye.

:29:27.:29:39.

# Here comes Johnny # Liquor and drugs

:29:40.:29:53.

# He's going to do another striptease

:29:54.:30:01.

# Well, I'm just a modern guy # Lust for life #

:30:02.:30:07.

COMMENTATOR: Jackson is through and stretches to score Scotland lead

:30:08.:30:15.

once again! Great from Scotland because they have won!

:30:16.:30:18.

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