Sean O’Brien crossed for a double as Ireland sealed consecutive RBS 6 Nations Championships with a comfortable victory over Scotland.
After Wales had run riot in Rome, Joe Schmidt’s Ireland knew that only a 20-point margin of victory would be enough to overtake the Welsh in overall standings on points difference.
And tries from Paul O’Connell, O’Brien (2) and Jared Payne, in addition to 18 points from the boot of Jonathan Sexton secured Ireland a record 30-point win at BT Murrayfield.
And after England ran out 55-35 winners over France at Twickenham in a 12-try thriller, that was enough to confirm back-to-back RBS 6 Nations titles for Schmidt’s troops. The first Irish team to achieve such a feat in 66 years.
Defeat for Vern Cotter’s Scotland condemns them to a winless campaign, only their third ever in the history of the RBS 6 Nations, as they had only a converted Finn Russell try and a Greig Laidlaw penalty to show for their efforts.
After events in Rome earlier this afternoon, Ireland knew they needed a big win and they made the perfect start in Scotland, Robbie Henshaw’s searing early break down the left taking them up to within inches of the try line.
Devin Toner and Cian Healy both came close as the forwards battered the Scottish wall and eventually it was skipper O’Connell who snuck over for the try.
Sexton added the extras and when the fly-half slotted a penalty on Ireland’s next foray into Scottish territory Schmidt’s side were 10-0 to the good with only ten minutes played.
Ireland’s early ambition was giving Scotland all kinds of problems and when the ball went wide again Luke Fitzgerald collected a Henshaw chip to create yet more pressure.
Scotland survived that advance however as their scramble defence earned a penalty but they badly needed to establish some territory and possession to get a foothold in the match.
Losing Euan Murray to an early injury did not help the hosts’ cause but Laidlaw’s 17th minute penalty did get them on the scoreboard at 10-3.
Ireland were getting a lot of change from Scotland when they spread the ball left and Fitzgerald and Henshaw nearly combined to devastating effect once again, only a desperate Stuart Hogg tackle forcing the latter into touch when a try looked on the cards.
That was only a temporary stay of execution however as O’Brien barged his way over moments later, a superbly-worked lineout move released the marauding flanker through the middle for the try.
Sexton was again spot on with the extras and with less than half an hour played Ireland were 17-3 up with Wales’ points difference firmly within their sights.
Ireland’s ambition, coupled with poor Scottish first-up tackling, was forcing a fast and open encounter and another burst from O’Brien nearly created another Irish score before Hogg picked off Tommy Bowe’s offload.
Up the other end Scotland were starting to show their attacking flair as Hogg burst onto Tommy Seymour’s grubber to set up possession deep in the Irish 22.
And when Laidlaw went down the short side fly-half Russell was on hand to collect Adam Ashe’s clever pass and go over for the first try of his international career.
Laidlaw added the extras to bring Scotland within seven points but Ireland hit back immediately and when their scrum got the nudge on Sexton stroked over another penalty for a 20-10 lead with half-time approaching.
Scotland dominated the closing moments of the first half but Ireland held on and went in at the interval knowing they needed eleven more unanswered points after the break to overtake Wales in the table.
Ireland knocked a kickable penalty to the corner after the break to serve notice of their intentions but after the forwards battered away up front with little success, Sexton took the points on offer from a second penalty to stretch the lead to 13 points.
Ireland were now a converted try away from levelling Wales on points difference and they were completely dominating the early stages of the second period.
A third try seemed only a matter of time and it was Payne who eventually provided it, his first for his country, as he cut back onto Sexton’s clever pass to go under the posts.
Sexton added the extras and with the scoreboard at 30-10 there was plenty of time left for Ireland to try and stretch their lead to ramp up the pressure on England.
Peter O’Mahony was next to break clear down the left and when the ball was spread back to the right Scotland infringed again but Sexton’s relatively simple penalty came back off the post.
That effort would have put Ireland clear ahead on points difference, which they needed as Wales have scored more tries in the 2015 Championship.
And the fly-half missed a second penalty, again from right in front, before the hour mark to leave the points difference still very much in the balance.
Geoff Cross saw yellow for that latest Scottish offence as referee Jerome Garces lost patience and now Ireland were totally dominant.
Tommy Bowe was denied in the right corner after Schmidt’s side cut loose again and then – after another Scottish infringement at the breakdown – Sexton made it third time lucky to slot the penalty that put the men in green 33-10 in front, but more importantly ahead of Wales on points difference.
O’Brien then barged his way over from close range to increase Ireland’s lead, replacement Ian Madigan adding the extras.
Hogg thought he had notched Scotland a late consolation but the TMO spotted a knock on following a superb covering tackle from Jamie Heaslip.
And although Ian Madigan missed a last-gasp penalty to try and stretch the lead, Ireland’s impressive win ruled Wales out of contention and left England with too high a mountain to climb at Twickenham.
