Ireland 36-14 Scotland: Rampant Irish score six tries to top their Pool after scintillating display as the Scots crash out of the World Cup despite showing late spirit

There was no Celtic clash in Paris on Saturday night, but rather a brilliant and brutal reminder from Ireland to rugby’s ruling order.

They annihilated Scotland, turning what should have been a close encounter into a rout.

They scored six tries, four in the first half, and reduced the ambitions of Gregor Townsend and his players to ashes.

Coming a fortnight after beating world champions South Africa here at the Stade de France, it is Ireland’s second statement of intent at this World Cup.

They are in France to win this competition, and it is up to powerful New Zealand to face them in the quarter-finals next Saturday night.

This is a contest that should live up to its reputation as a heavyweight clash.

It was a desperate mismatch, however, with Ireland scoring their first try within a minute, then withstanding everything Finn Russell and co could throw at them for the next ten minutes, before stealing tries with precision and ruthless economy to another. END.

Injuries were Ireland’s most troubling foes throughout the 80 minutes, with their two first-choice wingers, Mack Hansen and James Lowe, taken off at the break.

Their health will be a concern in the coming days, but every other aspect of the event will have filled Andy Farrell with satisfaction.

Athenry Champs were in early play when Garry Ringrose mistook Grant Gilchrist for a dummy and broke free, the ball passing from him to Hansen for Lowe to pass.

It was precisely the start the Scots didn’t want, but they responded with a long period of dominance, giving their outnumbered fans reason to keep believing.

The pressure was incessant but not extreme. They did not threaten the Irish line and after ten minutes possessing the ball and monopolizing territory, they were no closer to scoring.

It was one of their deepest fears: once again against Ireland, they were ahead everywhere except on the scoreboard.

The cost to their morale of failing to record a point despite playing the match in the Irish 22 was ruinous, with Russell’s decisions to forgo spot kicks from three penalties, in favor of going to the corner every time, looking more ill-advised with each new call.

The loss of Blair Kinghorn and Jamie Ritchie, their captain, within 20 minutes to injuries did not help, but no squad of players could have lived with Ireland in this form.

The Scots thought they were competing on a level playing field, but in reality they were chasing scores that Ireland simply would not agree to concede.

And when the Irish attack tore them apart again with a move of devastating speed in the 26th minute, they already had the game no more.

Aki pulled off a delicious offload to put the brilliant Ringrose through a gap, and he put Keenan over, with Sexton landing the conversion from the touchline.

Scotland came back, bravely trying to attack the Irish line from the restart, but when penalized looked devastated.

They were finished.

Five minutes later Ireland were on to their third goal, as Iain Henderson smashed past the scattered Scottish defenders after Ireland had beaten the line.

During their first four significant forays into the Scottish half, they scored three tries.

It was the kind of efficiency expected of future world champions, and it was far beyond anything Scotland could manage.

The strongest resistance to Ireland’s search for a fourth goal came from referee Nic Berry, who interfered with an Andrew Porter pass as Ireland attempted to clear a penalty kick. five meters.

His sheepish apology was brushed aside on the field, but in the coaches’ box, Andy Farrell was outraged.

It was allayed a minute later when, from the same platform, Ireland charged again, the ball being moved to the right and Keenan going over for his second.

They had their try bonus point with a minute to go in the first half, but they left the field at the half-time whistle like men far from satisfied.

On the other hand, the Scots seemed exhausted. They came promising to end Ireland’s eight-game winning streak against them, and here they were trailing 26-0.

The most trouble the Scottish players caused the winners came a minute after half-time, started by Ollie Smith tripping Johnny Sexton in an ill-tempered act.

This attracted players from both teams and much scrambling ensued, with Smith eventually sent to the sin-bin and Scotland forced to seek respectability with 14 players.

It didn’t work: Dan Sheehan, who had stumbled upon a billboard while wrestling with Pierre Schoeman, dived for Ireland’s fifth try shortly after Smith was yellowed.

The luxury of a 31-0 lead allowed Farrell to get rid of his star men, with Sexton departing after Sheehan’s try and all five advanced substitutes coming on at once in the 49th minute.

This was not a macho statement with a Bomb Squad statement, but rather a pragmatic case of protecting key players with the specter of New Zealand now filling Irish horizons.

Jack Crowley’s laser cross kick was collected by Ringrose for try number six, as the fans bustled with Mexican waves.

It had long passed the point of humiliation for the Scots, unrelieved by late tries from Ewan Ashman and Ali Price, but they had faded from Irish thoughts by the final whistle.

A resurgent New Zealand now awaits, with Joe Schmidt, former Irish maestro, at the center of the All Blacks operation.

There is also the question of avenging Ireland’s embarrassing quarter-final defeat to New Zealand four years ago.

At the time, the All Blacks were still dominant figures in the Irish rugby psyche.

Not anymore.

The teams will meet on equal terms at the Stade de France, both having viable plans to win this tournament.

Ireland may never have such a good chance – and no matter what they say publicly, Farrell and his players know it too.