Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland 31 Scotland 16 (3rd Place)

Ireland overcame a strong start by Scotland to run out winners by 31 – 16 in the Autumn Nations Cup 3rd Place Playoff at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Ireland (11) 31

TRY: Keith Earls (2), Cian Healy

CON: Jonny Sexton (2)

PEN: Jonny Sexton (2), Ross Byrne (2)

Scotland (9) 16

TRY: Duhan van der Merwe

CON: Jaco van der Walt

PEN: Jaco van der Walt (3)

Scotland started the game brightly and ran rings round Ireland for the first 30 minutes. However, they failed to to covert their flair into points with three penalties, from Jaco van der Walt, against one from Jonny Sexton, all they had to show for their efforts.

The visitors lost the plot on the half hour mark when Duncan Taylor was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. Whatever the reasoning behind the decision, it really seemed to get Scotland . . .