Player Ratings: Scotland v Ireland

Player Ratings: Scotland v Ireland

Following Ireland's victory over Scotland at Murrayfield, we rate every starting player out of 10.

1. Allan Dell - 8

A massive shift from the Scottish loosehead. He was strong in the scrum against a technically strong Tadhg Furlong. He made a boatload of tackles with his one blemish on defence being a missed tackle on Joey Carbery in the build up to Earls' try.

2. Stuart McInally - 6

A big shift on defence and got stuck into the rucks. His lineout throws were put under some pressure.


3. Simon Berghan - 6

Busy around the park but did come under some pressure in the scrums. 


4. Grant Gilchrist - 7.5

Another massive shift off the back of a stellar game against Italy. He made 19 tackles in the opening hour of the game and won a turnover.

5. Jonny Gray - 7

As per usual, Gray made a massive amount of tackles and was accurate as ever. 

6. Ryan Wilson - 5

Largely ineffective in the first half and was replaced at the break. 

7. Jamie Ritchie - 7.5

Ritchie was a warrior at the break down putting Murray under pressure. Like most of the Scottish back 5, he made numerous tackles as Ireland kept the ball in hand.

8. Josh Strauss - 8

Hardly a blade of grass on Murrayfield that Strauss' boots did not touch. The 32-year-old made over 20 tackles, carried the ball more than 15 times and came up with a few turnovers. Strauss did, however, concede a few silly penalties one of which lead to a penalty that put Ireland past a converted try heading into the final 10 minutes. He also set the tone of match with a massive carry, bouncing Bundee Aki off.

9. Greig Laidlaw - 7

Controlled and calm for 68 minutes before he went off. His passing and kicking was on point as per usual and he made his presence known on defence making 10 tackles and made a great charge down on his opposite number.

10. Finn Russell - 7

Russell was excellent on attack as he kept the Irish defence guessing. He came up with a sensational try assist. Russell's rating is hampered by his defence with the flyhalf missing 6 tackles and a kick off that went out on the full. 

11. Sean Maitland - 5

The winger was given little to do. He was starved of opportunities out wide and throw a risky pass in his own 22 late in the game. He was also involved with the mistake that gave Ireland their first try.

12. Sam Johnson - 6

Johnson was solid defensively and run a great support line to score his first test try. He struggled to make metres from his carries. 

13. Huw Jones - 5

Not Jones' finest game in the Scotland jersey. Struggled to gain metres on attack and was found wanting on defence. An uncharacteristic knock on from the kick off did not help his rating. 

14. Tommy Seymour - 5

Like Maitland, Seymour struggled to make running metres. He gifted Ireland their first try and was relatively quiet throughout the game. 

15. Stuart Hogg - n/a

The Scottish fullback looked lively in the opening minutes of the game but was forced off the field with an injury in the 16th minute.

Blair Kinghorn - 7.5

Hogg's replacement was excellent on attack making 99 running metres. He was found wanting at the back with some of Murray's kicks.

Ireland 

1. Cian Healy - 8 

Hardly put a foot wrong during his 56 minutes on the pitch. He carried well, made his tackles and applied the pressure at the scrum.

2. Rory Best - 7.5

Like Healy, Best did his job and did it well. He hit his jumpers, made all of his tackles and came up with a turnover.

3. Tadhg Furlong - 8

A strong game from the big tighthead. He was busy on attack making 16 carries, was brilliant in the scrum and came up with a turnover. 

4. James Ryan - 7.5

A busy performance has become the norm for the young second rower. He hit double digits in the carries and tackles departments and helped Ireland hold onto the ball for long passages of play.

5. Quinn Roux - 7

Got stuck into the physical side of the game and was a regular at the breakdown. He was a great option at the lineout and pressure Scotland's lineout.

6. Peter O'Mahony - 8

A kind of game that O'Mahony thrives on. He was physical in all facets of the game and had a strong game overall. His efforts saw him being named man of the match.

7. Sean O'Brien - 8

A fantastic performance on his return to the starting line up. He was at his usual best in the rucks and made 16 carries and 12 tackles before he went off in the 63rd minute.

8. Jack Conan - 7.5

Made 18 tackles and like O'Mahony he thrived with the physical nature of the game. 

9. Conor Murray - 7

Was in the right place at the right time to score the first try of the game. Murray's kick weren't as accurate as he would have liked and was charged down by Greig Laidlaw in the second half.

10. Jonathan Sexton - n/a

Sexton looked lively before he was forced off the field with an injury in the 23rd minute.

Joey Carbery - 8

Carbery was excellent off the bench in all facets of the game and came up with a moment of magic to set Keith Earls up for a try.

11. Jacob Stockdale - 7

Got off the mark with his first try of the tournament. He made 56 running metres and was good in the air.

12. Bundee Aki - 8

Aki was excellent on defence making 14 tackles and was Ireland's go to man for front football. 

13. Chris Farrell - 7

Relatively quiet game from the Munster centre. He kept Huw Jones quiet with his defence and carried the ball strongly.

14. Kieth Earls - 7

Earls was another back who made good decisions in defence. He chased the kicks well and ran a great support line to score following Carbery's break.  

15. Rob Kearney - 8.5

Covered the backfield superbly and joined the attack at the right times to slice through the Scottish defence. He racked up 91 running metres beating 5 defenders. 

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