Ireland edges Scotland
2007-03-10 19:06
Edinburgh - Ireland just kept alive its hopes of winning the Six Nations on Saturday with a 19-18 win against Scotland.
Ronan O'Gara scored all Ireland's points at Murrayfield with a try, conversion and four penalties to give his team the Triple Crown that a side earns by beating all its home nation rivals.
Scotland captain Chris Paterson, who kicked all Scotland's points in last month's 21-9 win over Wales, scored all his team's points again with six penalties.
"It was a bizarre kind of game, a tough game," said Ireland winger Denis Hickie. "We weren't very disciplined ... we were very happy to get out of here with a win."
Ireland has also beaten England and Wales but lost to France. The win against Scotland ensures the unbeaten French cannot clinch the title even if they beat England at Twickenham on Sunday.
France is the defending champion and is chasing the Grand Slam. It plays Scotland next weekend.
Ireland dominated the opening exchanges and took 62% of first-half possession and 61% of territory. Ireland, possibly wary of a backlash from a Scotland team that lost at home to Italy last time out, failed to make use of the ball and allowed the home team kicking chances.
Wary of backlash
The teams exchanged penalties before the visitors went 10-3 ahead.
Scotland flyhalf Dan Parks came into the team in place of Phil Godman, who was at fault for the first try in Italy's 37-17 win at Murrayfield on February 24. However, Parks had a kick charged down by O'Gara, who, after an exchange of passes, touched down and converted.
Paterson and O'Gara exchanged penalties again before another kick by Scotland.
Ireland led 13-9 at halftime.
"Penalties ruled the game. Indiscipline ruled the game," said Hickie.
Scotland moved into the lead through another three penalties by Paterson - taking his streak of successful kicks to 20 in this season's tournament - and seemed set to hang on for victory before conceding three penalties in the last 14 minutes.
O'Gara kicked two and missed the third from long distance, which was enough for Ireland.
Brian O'Driscoll, who equalled Keith Wood's record of 36 internationals as Ireland captain, hurt his shoulder with five minutes left, but was able to continue.
It wasn't immediately clear whether O'Driscoll, who missed six months of rugby after his shoulder was dislocated on the British and Irish Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand, would be fit for Ireland's tournament closer at Italy on March 17.
- AP