Murray seals Ireland win over Scotland to keep Six Nations title hopes alive

A Triple Crown, a bonus point in every round, whichever way you look at it, Ireland continue to develop impressive momentum. Here, they were too powerful for a visiting Scotland side who played with all the brio and pace we have come to expect – but without the heavy-duty weaponry that lifts Ireland into a category above.

Scotland played in devil-may-care mode, another championship long gone, a new playmaker at fly-half and nothing to lose. Nothing to win either, bar maybe a victory far too late, but they are never less than dangerous these days. Their slashes and parries, though, could not break Ireland’s skin. And Ireland knew how to break theirs.

They had to wait till the death to register that fourth try, but no one was surprised when it came. Ireland’s game was spearheaded by some ferocious forwards, particularly yet another bristling hooker for the future in Dan Sheehan. The balance of, well, power when the game crept into charging distance of either tryline was firmly in their favour.

The modern narrative between these two resumed pretty much from the kick-off – that is to say that Scotland slashed with their rapier, to which Ireland responded with a bludgeon. That may be a crude summary – Ireland certainly know how to deploy sleight of hand when the situation demands – but when it comes to the brutality of the close quarters in what people love to refer to these days as the Red Zone, Ireland could resort to some brutal weapons.

Hence their early 14-0 lead, despite some exhilarating approach work from their visitors, who had held the edge in possession. The trouble with the rapier is that it requires a higher level of accuracy to make tell. Darcy Graham is about as rapier-like as any international player. He