Here are our thoughts on Ireland's players after Saturday's 17-13 Six Nations Test win over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.
evaluation
15 Jordan Larmour: A relatively good performance for a player who was promoted to the starting 15 after Hugo Keenan was injured in warm-ups. The full-back straightened his lines in certain situations and ticked the boxes throughout. Solid without being noticeable. Five
14 Calvin Nash: Not as successful as other games in the championship, but still made a nice change by beating six defenders on the night when he didn't have many opportunities to work together. 6
13 Robbie Henshaw: Used as a battering ram on the day with 14 total carries. He also did well defensively, making eight successful tackles and only missing one. The partnership with Bundy Aki was key. 7
12 Bundy Aki: Like Henshaw, Aki showed his muscular beast as he carried the ball 12 times, made two clean breaks and beat two defenders to get just 50 meters short. With nine tackles to his name, it's clear why the Irishman is in the top 12 in the world. 7
🙌 I love the perfect tackle! #Guinness M6N pic.twitter.com/m19YFjhxlZ
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 16, 2024
11 James Rowe: An all-round effort from the wing looking to make things happen with the ball. Ireland frequently used the standard left boot. Another great performance, with his biggest weakness being the charged down kick. 6
10 Jack Crowley: It was a different kind of match to the ones he had to deal with earlier in the tournament, but the fly-half defended himself and made solid decisions for the most part. He will certainly be grateful to Jamison Gibson Park's influence for making his life easier. 6
9 Jamison Gibson-Park: The scrum-half has become more influential as the life and brain of the team since Johnny Sexton retired. Gibson Park is an incredibly intelligent rugby player who rarely makes the wrong decision. Almost everything good about Ireland today has come through its experienced stars. 9
Planet Rugby player evaluation key.
forward pack
8 Caelan Doris: Another strong player tonight with a total of 14. Defensively he was strangely quiet, making just five tackles despite Ireland's dominance. Not that he was poor by any means, but the number eight certainly wasn't up to his lofty standards. Five
7 Josh van der Flier: Much like Doris in that his influence has been diminished by Scotland's passionate efforts. He didn't have as many carries as usual and didn't reach double digits in tackles. There are also some uncharacteristic errors. Four
6 Peter O'Mahony (c): It was a spirited game from the captain in what could be Ireland's last Test match. O'Mahony was sharp at lineouts, completing 10 carries with the ball and making 12 tackles in defence. A true Irish legend and a warrior on the Test scene. 8
Ireland v Scotland: 'Deserving' champions beat 'sensational' Scotland defense to claim back-to-back Six Nations titles with five points
5 Tajig Beirne: The second-rower reached a milestone of his own as he ran for his 50th cap. He certainly inspired with another tireless performance as he racked up a team-high 13 tackles. 7
4 Joe McCarthy: As the more attacking player of the two second rows, he works brilliantly in tandem with Beirne. He makes contact with the key strips of the ball very skillfully when defending and is a great example of this. McCarthy did well tonight, but he didn't reach the heights he had earlier in the campaign. 7
3 furlongs: During his 50-odd minutes at the park, he played solidly at set pieces, as well as making a fair amount of tackles. Other than his occasional intimidation with his trademark side step, he was nothing special with the ball in his hands. Five
2 Dan Sheehan: Ireland showed great awareness early on to score a try from a poor throw from Scotland. Otherwise, he was intimidating and sometimes elusive in his carry. Sheehan's mobility continues to be impressive, making him one of the best hookers at the moment. 7
1 Andrew Porter: Scored an impressive 15 points in that department for his Chiefs career on the day, one of which led to a decisive try. The prop really respected every aspect of the game tonight. 7
It's a wonderful moment 💪@IrishRugby unlock @ScotlandTeam Play defense and get one step closer to 🏆!#Guinness M6N #Iresco pic.twitter.com/cQvmGzgh1p
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2024
Substitutes: Most of the changes are for fresh legs rather than tactical changes, with the return of Garry Ringrose perhaps being the highlight of the substitutions. Still, the bench maintained its intensity and contributed to the win and ultimately retaining the title. 6
Read more: Ireland claim back-to-back Six Nations titles with hard-fought victory over Scotland
