Start Six Nations campaign with a bang

His first came when Finn Russell’s flung pass didn’t reach him but the bounce was kind and the full-back gathered the ball, twirled like Anthea Redfern in her pomp and scampered over.

Then Hogg set off up the left-hand touchline and his cute dummy took him past the final defender and over the line.

Ireland got themselves off the mark with a Keith Earls try but Alex Dunbar replied for the Scots from a cheeky Ross Ford lineout.

Ireland were rattled. They were forcing things, as Scotland have done in the past, whereas the hosts in contrast were the more clinical and accurate side.

Centre Huw Jones, despite not having played a minute of rugby since injuring his ankle in the autumn Test series, was immense for Scotland, so it was a bit baffling to see him hooked on the hour.

And Johnny Gray’s 28 tackles – a Scotland record – set the tone for a sterling defensive effort.

The sides switched ends with Scotland 21-8 to the good but, no doubt on the receiving end of a few stern words from coach Joe Schmidt at half-time, Ireland hammered away at the Scots’ line and Iain Henderson finally crashed over for the try which Jackson converted.

Then, Jackson ran a superb line, pocketed Murray’s pop pass and reached over the whitewash despite Strauss’ despairing tackle. His own conversion put Ireland ahead for the first time after an hour and you got the impression that was that.

But it wasn’t.

Scotland – Hogg; Maitland, Jones (Bennett 60), Dunbar, Seymour; Russell (Weir 45-52), Laidlaw (Capt.); Dell (Reid 56), Brown (Ford 5-10, 26), Fagerson, R. Gray, J. Gray, Wilson, Watson (Barclay 49), Strauss (Swinson 66). Unused replacements – Berghan, Price.

Ireland – Kearney; Earls (Bowe 68), Ringrose, Henshaw, Zebo; Jackson, Murray; McGrath (Healey 56), Best (Capt.), Furlong (Ryan 69), Henderson (Dillane 64), Toner, Stander, O’Brien (van der Flier 66), Heaslip. Unused replacements – Scannell, Marmion, Keatley.