By the time the final whistle blew in this match, most of the crowd at Murrayfield had long since adopted the thousand-yard stare of Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, forced to relive the exact same experience for the gazillionth time, with no expectation that things will ever be different. In fact, this was only Scotland’s 11th consecutive loss to Ireland. But it was potentially their most depressing yet. With home advantage, a backline which even shorn of Sione Tuipulotu packed enough star wattage to power the Edinburgh grid and an Ireland team who had shown some vulnerability against England the previous weekend (albeit only for about half an hour), hopes were as high as ever that Scotland could at least give their bogey team a game. It is the hope that kills you.
Ireland were far too good for Gregor Townsend’s men, far too strong, far too savvy. It is increasingly obvious that reports of their demise during the autumn were grossly exaggerated. Ireland remain firmly on course for an historic ‘three-peat’ – that dreadful Americanism which has sadly infiltrated sport. In fact, they must now be considered favourites to claim a hat-trick of titles, something no nation has ever achieved in the men’s game, not since the original Home Nations launched in 1883. After France’s slip-up at Twickenham, and with the French having to travel to Dublin this year, the Grand Slam is Ireland’s to lose.
Scotland were dispatched with a minimum of fuss. A rousing pre-match ovation for Sir Chris Hoy, the Olympic legend who is battling terminal cancer, gave the occasion a poignant feel. But Ireland do not deal in sentimentality. A son of Edinburgh delivers the match ball. Murrayfield gives Sir Chris Hoy a rapturous reception 💙#BBCRugby #BBCSixNations pic.twitter.com/qEfhCdh49B. Ireland overwhelmed the hosts in an embarrassingly one-sided first half, scoring two tries via winger Calvin Nash and captain Caelan Doris, and could have had a hatful more. They only scored three points while Duhan van der Merwe was in the bin for barging Nash into touch off the ball. Twice Scotland held them up over the line. But Scotland never looked like they believed.
The hosts were extremely unfortunate to lose their own captain Finn Russell and the livewire Darcy Graham midway through the first half after they collided with each other. The latter left the field on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace, and had to go to hospital for further checks. “We believe there are no issues around his neck, it’s more checking the concussion, we’re hoping there are no broken bones in his face,” Townsend reported.
But even the loss of two such influential players does not excuse a largely toothless performance which will raise further questions for Scotland’s head coach. The knives were firmly out by the finish. “That was painful,” wrote former international Ruaridh Jackson on X. “So inaccurate, no gameplan, no edge. We seem to be wasting this golden age of players. Really can’t see us taking the final step forward unfortunately. Ireland are so detailed, accurate, aggressive.”.
Apart from a brief spell either side of half-time when Scotland scored 11 unanswered points – Van der Merwe touching down brilliantly in the corner (see the video below) and Blair Kinghorn, who in fairness had a very good game, converting two further penalties – it was one-way traffic, as it has been so often in this fixture in recent years. Scotland get themselves on the board just before the break with Duhan van der Merwe getting the try.
We could be in for a dramatic second half 👀#BBCRugby #BBCSixNations pic.twitter.com/U9gUGMHPTN. Ireland were dominant at the breakdown, winning 102 rucks to Scotland’s 65, and far more clinical when they had the ball. James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park were brilliant again, as they were last week, while Sam Prendergast, Ireland’s 21-year-old fly-half, who had a difficult afternoon against England in Dublin, looked far more assured here, showing his full range of passing, and kicking all but one of his attempts at goal. Andy Farrell, watching on from the stands, would have enjoyed his man-of-the-match performance, having fast-tracked his promotion.
Ireland's early pressure pays off!. Calvin Nash opens the scoring against Scotland 🏉#BBCRugby #BBCSixNations pic.twitter.com/GrSOgZik7M. Lowe and replacement Jack Conan added further tries in the second half as Ireland wrapped up the bonus point by the hour mark, with Ben White scoring a late consolation for Scotland. The atmosphere had long since evaporated by that stage, as Groundhog Day set in. “No one is more disappointed than me,” Townsend reflected, denying that Scotland were “back to square one”.
