IRELAND
Rob Kearney: Always a danger on the counter-attack and a secure defender under the high ball, the full-back was named man of the match, although in truth several of his team-mates would have been equally deserving of the award. 8 out of 10
Keith Earls: Defended intelligently at times but was too hasty at others, conceding possession cheaply. Always came infield looking for work. 7
Garry Ringrose: On his return to the team, the centre showed how valuable he can be with some menacing breaks from midfield, and worked well with Aki. 8
Bundee Aki: Played a big part in Stockdale’s second try on the stroke of half-time and displayed his usual abrasiveness. 7
Jacob Stockdale: Got Ireland’s first points of the afternoon when a good read of a Horne pass gave him an interception and a clear run to the line from halfway, then added a second just before the break. 8
Johnny Sexton: Orchestrated play with his usual acute vision, again showing his cool head for the big occasion. 8
Conor Murray: Sexton’s half-back partner yet again enhanced his reputation with a fine display and scored his team’s third try at a crucial stage in proceedings. 8
Cian Healy: Dangerous in the loose, he was a prominent player in some of Ireland’s multi-phase attacks in the first half, but twice needed treatment just before the break and went off 10 minutes into the second period. 7
Rory Best: Popped up well in attack, notably in his dummy run for Ireland’s second try, as well as performing his setpiece duties with his customary conviction. 7
Tadhg Furlong: The immovable object personified, the cornerstone of the Irish pack gave his all in the first hour before giving way to Porter. 8
James Ryan: Outshone by second-row partner Toner and guilty of the odd lapse of concentration at times, but was also a real force in open play on occasion. 6
Devin Toner: A vital presence in the lineout and also in the loose, the lock had one of his best performances for Ireland. 6
Peter O’Mahony: One of the under-appreciated performers in the team, the flanker nonetheless was a vital cog in the Irish machine as they steadily ground Scotland down. 6
Dan Leavy: Played his part in ensuring Scotland never got close to the breakdown dominance they enjoyed against England. 8
CJ Stander: Kept up a brutal onslaught on the Scotland defence all the way through the game 8.
Substitutes: Jack McGrath: On for Healy with half an hour to play
Iain Henderson: Replaced Toner with 25 minutes to go
Jordi Murphy: A substitute for O’Mahony quarter of an hour into the second half.
Andrew Porter: Replaced Furlong for the final quarter.
Sean Cronin: Took over from Best for the last 15 minutes.
Kieran Marmion: Got the last 10 minutes in place of Murray.
Joey Carbery: On for Sexton with eight minutes to go.
Jordan Larmour: Got the last six minutes in place of Kearney.
SCOTLAND
Stuart Hogg: Denied a certain try by Jones’ inaccurate pass, the full-back still showed some of his characteristic menace in a bid to spark a recovery. 7 out of 10
Blair Kinghorn: Had to look lively under the high ball early on, had the interruption of a head-injury assessment to contend with, then marked his first start with a well-taken try. 7
Huw Jones: A trademark break from the prolific centre looked sure to produce a first-half try for Hogg only for the pass to be too low. By his own high standards, a modest outing. 7
Peter Horne: Saw his long pass intercepted for Ireland’s first try, and was never the steadying influence that he so often can be in the back division. 6
Sean Maitland: Came infield to get involved in some attacks and invariably looked dangerous when he got the ball. 7
Finn Russell: An early spill of a high ball under pressure from Kearney did not unsettle the stand-off unduly, and he varied his game well as Scotland attempted a recovery. 7
Greig Laidlaw: Got the scoring under way with a penalty and did his best to ensure Scotland kept their composure in attack. 6
Gordon Reid: Had a decent tussle with Furlong in the setpiece and has again established himself as a reliable member of the team. 6
Stuart McInally: Another solid outing from the hooker, and if it was not quite at the world-class level of his England performance, the quality of the opposition was much of the reason for that. 7
Simon Berghan: Another who did not hit the inspired heights he had reached against England but nonetheless had a solid performance. Place will be under threat from Nel for Italy, however. 6
Grant Gilchrist: Showed admirable persistence to keep harrying Ireland long after the outcome of the game was beyond doubt. 7
Jonny Gray: Unusually quiet, although he did have some good spells, particularly late in the game. 6
John Barclay: Found the Irish back-row trio tougher opponents than their English counterparts, but kept fighting for the upper hand. 6
Hamish Watson: Played with his usual dynamism and again displayed that precious ability to bounce off defenders in the tackle. Another who persevered some time after the game was gone. 6
Ryan Wilson: The Glasgow No 8 had a bright start to the game but only lasted 17 minutes before injury forced an early end to his involvement. 6
Substitutes: David Denton: The first substitute used by either side, he came on at No 8 before the end of the first quarter in place of the injured Wilson, and was one of his team’s most impressive performers. 7
Jamie Bhatti: On for Reid after 55 minutes.
Willem Nel: Off the bench at the same time as Bhatti, taking over from Berghan.
Fraser Brown: Took over from McInally for the final quarter.
Ali Price: Got the last 15 minutes in place of Laidlaw.
Tim Swinson: Took over from Gray for last 10 minutes.
Nick Grigg: A substitute for Horne eight minutes from time.
Lee Jones: Came on briefly as a replacement 10 minutes before half-time when Kinghorn went off for an HIA.
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