Just when you thought it couldn’t get much worse, it did. Scotland were roundly thrashed by a far superior Ireland to end a miserable RBS 6 Nations.
But for a short ten minute spell before half-time, Ireland had complete control as they sought a big margin of victory to keep alive their hopes of the title and they duly it got it, scoring four tries to one.
Sean O’Brien bagged two in a man of the match performance as the Irish attack, under wraps for most of the championship, came alive against a porous Scottish defence. For the third time in five matches, Scotland didn’t register a point in the second half.
The home side were under the cosh almost from the off as Ireland attacked on the left and Dougie Fife slipped, Stuart Hogg’s desperate saving tackle saving a certain try.
However Ireland retained possession, kept the pressure on and skipper Paul O’Connell went over for the opening score with just seven minutes played, Jonny Sexton converting.
It didn’t get much better for Scotland as Laidlaw was caught obstructing at a kick and Sexton booted a penalty, and although the Scotland skipper reduced the margin from close range in 18 minutes, the Scots gifted a second try on 25 minutes.
A routine lineout on the 22 saw O’Brien burst from the tail and through Fife’s ineffectual tackle to score easily, Sexton stretching Ireland out to 17-3 ahead.
Only a timely Hogg interception prevented Ireland going further ahead after another missed tackle on O’Brien, but the Scots hauled themselves back into contention with the full-back prominently involved.
Tommy Seymour neat kick up the line caused confusion in the Irish defence and Hogg regathered, almost putting Seymour in but the Scots regrouped and Russell scored his first international try on a big overlap.
However from the restart a penalty against replacement prop Geoff Cross allowed Sexton to take Ireland to ten ahead again and despite a couple of bright moves, they reached ha;f-time with that margin.
In the second half, however, Ireland were completely on top as a blizzard of penalties against the home side gave them field position.
Sexton and replacement Ian Madigan even missed three simple penalties as the Irish poured forward, Jarrod Payne and O’Brien scoring their second half counters.
Scotland’s dreadful afternoon in the Murrayfield sunshine was complete when Hogg fumbled the ball over the line after a rare moment of resistance from the home side.
Scotland: S Hogg; D Fife, M Bennett (T Visser 71), M Scott (G Tonks 70), T Seymour; F Russell, G Laidlaw (capt, Hidalgo-Clyne 56); R Grant (A Dickinson 31), R Ford (F Brown 53), E Murray (G Cross 12); J Hamilton (T Swinson 53), J Gray; A Ashe (R Harley 57), B Cowan, D Denton.
Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, J Payne, R Henshaw, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton (I Madigan 71), C Murray (E Reddan 80); C Healy (J McGRath 53), R Best (S Cronin 61), M Ross (M Moore 46); D Toner (I Henderson 61), P O’Connell; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien (J Murphy 73), J Heaslip.
Ref J Garces (Fra)