Impressive Ireland crush Scots to reach World Cup last eight

Ireland cruised into the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals by demolishing Scotland 36-14 in a clinical performance in their final Pool B match at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Hugo Keenan scored two of Ireland's six tries against a Scottish side that slid to its ninth successive defeat at the hands of the Irish.

The record-extending 17th Test victory pitches Ireland into a repeat of the 2019 quarter-final with three-time champions New Zealand next Saturday.

The All Blacks won that round.

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Latecomers would have missed the lightning start made by the Irish that gave the tens of thousands of fans from Ireland just the start they desired in Paris.

James Lowe went over in the left-hand corner in the second minute, Garry Ringrose creating it by piercing the Scottish defence, but Johnny Sexton failed to convert.

The Scottish came back hard but the Irish defence held firm and won a penalty allowing them to clear the danger.

The Irish were conceding a fair share of penalties under pressure but once again, despite the Scots having a huge amount of possession, the Irish repelled them and cleared it.

The rub of the green was going all Ireland's way.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend was out of his seat in a fury when a touch was not called as Ireland fullback Keenan looked to have his foot on the line when he caught a clearance.

The Irish then missed a glorious chance to score a second try when under pressure from Jamie Ritchie Mack Hansen fumbled the pass from Peter O'Mahony with the tryline metres away.

The Scots, though, suffered a serious loss as Ritchie was injured in the hit on Hansen and had to go off in the 19th minute holding his arm.

His departure was