Sexton makes it a Triple for the Irish
IRELAND clinched the Triple Crown with a convincing bonuspoint victory over Scotland in Dublin.
The victory came courtesy of tries from Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Josh van der Flier and Conor Murray. Captain Johnny Sexton converted three of the four scores to help Ireland end an 18-year wait to secure silverware on home soil.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park described winning the Triple Crown as ‘unbelievable’.
He added: ‘What a feeling to be back home in front of our fans and families.’
Scotland had prevented Ireland winning the Triple Crown at Croke Park back in 2010 — their last victory in Dublin.
But Gregor Townsend’s side never threatened an upset as their miserable run in this fixture continued on a chastening evening.
Defeat for the Scots — an 11th in the past 12 meetings between the teams — was a disappointing end to a campaign that had begun so positively by beating England to retain the Calcutta Cup.
However, they did at least avoid finishing second bottom thanks to Italy’s shock win against Wales in Cardiff.
Scotland’s chances were not helped by fly-half Finn Russell, scrum-half Ali Price and full-back captain Stuart Hogg being among six players disciplined for breaching team protocols by visiting a bar following last weekend’s win over Italy.
With their influential playmaker Russell dropped to the bench, the away side began relatively brightly before Ireland’s hooker Sheehan barged through Scotland’s defence and showed good strength to burrow over in the 17th minute.
Veteran prop Healy became the second member of the Irish front row to cross, bulldozing through the Scottish attempts to stop him to claim his 10th Test try.
Scotland were in danger of being overpowered. Yet they sufficiently varied their attack to claw a way back into the contest just before the break. South Africa-born prop
Pierre Schoeman was the man to benefit from sustained pressure as he touched down, although Blair Kinghorn missed the conversion.
Unfortunately for Scotland, Ireland began the second period with renewed purpose, although it took a stunning last-ditch tackle from Hugo Keenan to deny Hogg a certain score in the right corner. The Scot had burst clear on the wing and opted to go for the line himself as opposed to passing inside.
The home side restored their two-try advantage with an hour played when Van der Flier capitalised on a spell of dominance and, after Scotland scrum-half Ben White was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on, Murray touched down his country’s 24th try of the competition. Sexton missed the resultant kick but the 36-year-old fly-half cared little as he lifted silverware for the first time as skipper.