London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

Ireland stay on course for Grand Slam after Scotland win

Ireland stay on course for Grand Slam after Scotland win

Ireland wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe scored a try each as flyhalf Johnny Sexton became the joint leading scorer in Six Nations history following a pulsating 22-7 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Replacement number eight Jack Conan scored Ireland's third try as they turned up the heat in the second half despite the loss of both hookers to injury, leading to flanker Josh van der Flier throwing in at the line-out and three props in the front row of the scrum.

Scotland were in the game at halftime as they trailed 8-7 having scored a try through centre Huw Jones, which will give them some consolation heading into the Rugby World Cup where they face Ireland and South Africa in their pool with only two teams to advance to the quarter-finals.

Ireland, who have claimed the Triple Crown and have their sights now set on a Grand Slam, lead the Six Nations table with 19 points from four games, four ahead of second-placed France.

They host England in their final fixture next Saturday while Scotland welcome Italy.

"It was an incredibly tough game," Sexton told the BBC. "That was one of the toughest first halves I've played, the pace it was played at.

"Some good management at halftime, we stuck at it, knew we could get by at scrum-time, we had to find a way at the lineout.

"We've got to get the bodies back together. We'll be playing against an English team that are hurting (after losing to France) and one that we have huge respect for."

Ireland claimed an eighth win in a row against the Scots and spoilt the party for home captain Stuart Hogg in his 100th cap, but there are some concerns for coach Andy Farrell.

Centre Gary Ringrose had to be carried off in a stretcher in the final 10 minutes. That followed early injuries suffered by number eight Caelan Doris, hooker Dan Sheehan, lock Iain Henderson, and then Sheehan’s replacement Ronan Kelleher.

Prop Cian Healy came on in the hooker position and performed admirably in the unfamiliar role, as did Van der Flier at the line-out.

Sexton kicked seven points to equal Ronan O’Gara’s record points haul of 557 in Six Nations matches, a missed conversion in the first half denying him the top position outright.

After a period of concerted pressure in the Irish 22, Jones scored the first try of the game after being put through a gap by centre partner Sione Tuipulotu.

But Ireland hit back with a try from Hansen as he produced a brilliant finish in the corner under pressure.

The visitors increased the tempo in the second period, with Hansen taking an excellent high ball to heap pressure on the Scottish line and the ball was worked out wide for Lowe to dot down in the corner.

If that was a blow for Scotland, then a minute later the hammer came down on their chances as Conan ran in his score.

"That first half we lacked a clinical edge," Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie said. "We created opportunities that we did not put away.

"Credit to Ireland in the second half, we could not get continuity. They are a very good side, number one in the world for a reason.

"We knew we could apply pressure if we slowed the ball down. You saw that in the first half but there were a couple of times in the second half we allowed them to get momentum and were therefore on the wrong side of the scoreline."
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×