By Ben Jaycock, Assistant Editor at Murrayfield
Scotland………………………………..7
Tries: Jones 16
Conversions: Russell 17
Ireland………………………………….22
Tries: Hansen 27, Lowe 56, Conan 61
Conversions: Sexton 57, 62
World number one team Ireland took a giant leap towards their first Grand Slam since 2018 as they pulled clear in the second half to see off a spirited Scotland.
Andy Farrell's men showcased why they will be the most feared side at this year's World Cup with a controlled second half performance inside a hostile Murrayfield, that could be their most impressive 40 minutes in the Englishman's tenure.
Ireland return to Dublin on ‘Super Saturday' for a Saint Patrick's Day Grand Slam showdown against England, in a game that Steve Borthwick's men will nervously await following their record drubbing at the hands of France yesterday.
The hosts' new look midfield provided Ireland with problems, with Huw Jones dotting down in the first half but the men in green showed are the number one ranked side for good reason and look a class above the rest in all areas.
Ireland's kicking was precise and accurate constantly putting the home side under pressure, with Garry Ringrose, on his 50th Ireland appearance, producing a grubber kick that forced Kyle Steyn to carry the ball out on his own five metre line.
Off the consequential driving maul, Ireland drew a penalty advantage for offside that talisman Sexton turned into three points to open the scoring.
It was Scotland's turn for territory with their forwards and backs interlinking and getting the home side from halfway to the Ireland five-metre line.
The sustained pressure paid off and sent Murrayfield into ecstasy as under a penalty advantage, scintillating hands allowed Jones to cross for his fourth try of the tournament.
Ireland suffered early setbacks with the withdrawals in their pack of Dan Sheehan, Caelan Doris and Iain Henderson due to injury, while Scotland were in the ascendancy dominating the breakdown and matching Ireland's physicality.
But Ireland regathered and after bulldozing carries from their forwards, quick hands out wide allowed Mack Hansen to finish acrobatically out wide.
In this fantastic seesaw contest, it was Scotland's turn to attack and only a jackal turnover from Jack Conan stopped Scotland's gelled midfield axis from producing another try.
Both side's defences dug in deep to prevent further scores at the end of a chaotic but compelling first half.
The second half failed to replicate the drama of the first as Ireland's dominance at scrum time began to turn the screw and substitute Jamison Gibson-Park provided the spark that Ireland needed.
The Leinster scrum-half made an instant impact as his box kick picked out Hansen and suddenly Ireland were inches away.
Following persistent pick and drives, James Lowe was picked out by the accuracy of Gibson-Park.
Sexton converted the try from out wide to become the all-time points scorer in this fixture, surpassing Ronan O'Gara's record of 116.
The visitors found their purple patch and scored a third try moments later out wide through Jack Conan who was the beneficiary of Ireland's ruthlessness when presented with an overlap.
Sexton was yet again on hand to convert from a difficult angle before the all-time great received a standing ovation when he departed in place of Ross Byrne.
Gibson-Park was running riot and his break fed Lowe, who was dragged down just short of the line but the Kiwi born wing's offload to Peter O'Mahony was wayward and stopped what would have been a brilliant try.
In the closing stages, The Fields of Anthenry rang out from Ireland's travelling contingent who will be preparing themselves for an almighty party next weekend.
Star man: Mack Hansen
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SCOTLAND: Hogg, Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, van der Merwe, Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, R Gray, J Gray, M Fagerson, Ritchie (c), Dempsey
Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, Berghan, Cummings, Watson, Price, Kinghorn, Harris
IRELAND: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (c), Murray; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Henderson, Ryan, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, O'Toole, Baird, Conan, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Henshaw
Referee: Luke Pearce
