Ireland take some solace from 6N
Ireland won successive Six Nations by overcoming a bold Scotland, nerves and the late withdrawal of key man Hugo Keenan to prevail 17-13 at Lansdowne Road.
The Irish appeared to break Scotland’s rugged resistance with 15 minutes to go after their second converted try for 17-6. The tension drained out of the packed stadium. But a brilliant solo try by Scotland’s Huw Jones suddenly brought them within four points with three minutes left.
But Ireland were too savvy to be rattled. They comfortably contained the Scots in their own half and expertly managed the last minutes, even with 14 players after replacement first five Harry Byrne was sin-binned.
It is Ireland’s fifth Six Nations crown in 11 years. They won in 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2023. Captain Peter O’mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy have been involved in all five titles. O’mahony, playing for Ireland since 2012, said he was unsure of his future.
The championship, almost inevitable for Ireland after crushing France in Marseille in the opening match, will go some way to soothing the hurt from falling in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals last October in Paris.
“It was vital that we won some silverware after the World Cup,” centre Robbie Henshaw said.
“We all know that there is more in us and we’re probably only scratching the surface.”
Ireland were stung again last weekend when their hopes of rare back-to-back Grand Slams were ruined by England winning with a last-gasp drop goal in London. Ireland still had pole position for the title, though.
Scotland also were in a mood after losing to Italy in Rome and went to Dublin with a chance, albeit slim, of winning the title.
Even though the Scots hadn’t beaten Ireland since 2017 or won at Lansdowne Road since 1998, they dominated early but without being clinical.
It came back to bite them, as did having to make 239 energy-sapping tackles.
● Italy earned another historic win in Cardiff and left Wales with the dreaded wooden spoon for finishing last in the Six Nations.
The Azzurri won 24-21 to complete their greatest Six Nations.
They have avoided defeat in three consecutive matches for the first time and racked up a record number of competition points.
“We’ve been through lots of difficult moments and now we can celebrate the good ones,” captain Michele Lamaro said before his team went on a deserved lap of honour.
They finished with a draw in France and wins over Scotland and Wales — in Cardiff for a second straight time.
Italy received the wooden spoon in the previous eight years, and passed it to Wales for the first time in 21 years after the Welsh lost all five games in the championship.
“We’re probably at rock bottom,” Wales coach Warren Gatland said.
He offered post-match to resign. “I just said to Abi (Tierney, the Welsh Rugby Union CEO), ‘If you want me to resign, I’ll do that.’ She said, ‘Like hell.”’
● For France, there is nothing tastier than a win over their English “best enemies” in the Six Nations.
Especially when it comes at the last minute of an enthralling contest.
The French managed to get one for the ages yesterday after Thomas Ramos landed a 47m penalty to give his team a 33-31 win in Lyon.
The result over bitter rivals England ensured France finished the championship runners-up to Ireland.
After a stuttering and insipid start to the tournament marred by a lopsided loss to Ireland and a lucky draw against Italy, France followed their swashbuckling win in Wales last weekend with another solid and disciplined display in Lyon.
The French scored three tries — one fewer than England — and managed to fight back after England came from behind early in the second half to take control of the match.
“We gave ourselves a scare,” Ramos said. “Even if everything isn’t perfect, we’ve got the desire back.” — AP