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LEINSTER (11) 32

Tries: Goodman, Dundon, Murphy, Cooney
Cons: Madigan 3
Pens: Goodman 2

SCARLETS (5) 5

Tries: Fenby

(PhatzRadio / BBC Sports) — Ian Madigan starred as a second-half substitute in Leinster’s bonus-point win over the Scarlets at the RDS.

Andrew Goodman scored a try and two penalties to give Leinster a 11-5 lead at half-time, with Andy Fenby going over for the Welsh visitors.

Madigan was involved in Leinster’s most potent attacks as they scored 21 unanswered points after the break.

The fly-half converted tries from Aaron Dundon, Jordi Murphy and John Cooney in a comfortable Dublin victory.

The first quarter was pockmarked by penalties but both sides showed an eagerness to attack from deep and put the ball through hands.

Leinster edged ahead in the third minute with New Zealander Goodman, assuming the kicking duties for the night, planting a penalty through the posts.

The Scarlets’ young half-backs Owen Williams and Aled Davies probed for openings off the fringes of rucks but Leinster were alive to the danger.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men after lock George Earle was carded for dangerous play at a lineout.

However, Goodman was unable to convert the resulting penalty and Williams also sent a penalty chance wide just past the midway point of the first half.

Simon Easterby’s men boxed clever while Earle was off the pitch, keeping their defensive line intact apart from a Fionn Carr and Dominic Ryan-inspired surge.

Leinster began to build some momentum after a direct run from number eight Murphy.

A clever backhanded pass from Isaac Boss released David Kearney and their combined efforts led to Goodman’s second three-pointer of the night.

The Kiwi then opened his try account for the province, swatting away Williams’ attempted tackle to score in the right corner.

The pace and distribution skills of Carr, Kearney and Andrew Conway were to the fore in the build-up, with Goodman unable to convert from the touchline.

The Scarlets hit back straight from the restart, retrieving possession and hunting out to the left where Aaron Shingler and Aled Thomas combined to send Fenby streaking over in the corner.

Williams’ conversion attempt went wide and Leinster also missed a couple of kicks closing in on half-time, Noel Reid hitting the left upright from closer range and Goodman pushing an effort wide.

Leinster used their lineout maul to good effect on the restart. A Shane Jennings drive to the line was ruled inconclusive, however hooker and man-of-the-match Dundon piled over from a similar attack soon after.

Madigan converted to put 11 points between the sides and just as the game seemed to be petering out, the out-half inspired Leinster’s late bonus point push.

With 10 minutes left, Murphy took a great line onto a crisp pass from Cooney to score to the left of the posts with Madigan adding the extras.

Right at the death, Leinster turned defence into attack as Madigan and Fergus McFadden drove them on and replacement scrum-half Cooney sniped over from a close-range ruck to confirm the bonus point.
TEAMS

Leinster: D. Kearney, Conway, O’Malley, Goodman, Carr, Reid, Boss, J. McGrath, Dundon, Bent, Cullen, Marshall, Ryan, Jennings, Murphy.

Replacements: McFadden for Carr (48), Madigan for Reid (41), Cooney for Boss (64), O’Connell for J. McGrath (71), T. Sexton for Dundon (64), Hagan for Bent (64), Ruddock for Ryan (64).

Not Used: Flanagan.

Scarlets: A. Thomas, Reynolds, Maule, Warren, Fenby, O. Williams, A. Davies, John, E. Phillips, Adriaanse, Earle, Snyman, Shingler, Turnbull, McCusker.

Replacements: K. Phillips for A. Thomas (74), Ford for Reynolds (74), R. Jones for John (64), Rees for E. Phillips (46), Lee for Adriaanse (46), Timani for Earle (46), Ball for Shingler (64).

Not Used: G. Davies.

Att: 13,000

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy).

Assistant Referees: Michael Black, Jonathan Peak (both IRFU)

Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)

TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

Six Nations: Scotland beat Ireland in Murrayfield turnaround

Scotland (0) 12

Pens: Laidlaw 4

Ireland (3) 8

Tries: Gilroy
Pens: Jackson

(PhatzRadio / BBC Sports) — Scotland recovered from a woeful first-half performance to overhaul Ireland and keep their Six Nations Championship hopes alive.

Scotland went into the match with confidence high after last week’s victory over Italy but they were awful against Ireland before the break.

However, Ireland had only a Paddy Jackson penalty to show for all their possession and territorial advantage.

Wing Craig Gilroy did cross for the visitors shortly after the restart but four Greig Laidlaw penalties secured the win for the hosts.

On paper, it was a miraculous victory for Scotland – Ireland had 78% of possession and 80% of territory before the break – but the visitors only had themselves to blame for a string of missed opportunities.

For Scotland, it was their first back-to-back victory in the Six Nations since 2001 following their record win over Italy last week.

For Ireland, it is the first time they have lost two Six Nations games in a row since 2008 and leaves head coach Declan Kidney’s future in some doubt.

Ireland came into the match in some disarray, last week’s defeat by England having ruled out Simon Zebo and Gordon D’Arcy for the tournament and Jonathan Sexton and Mike McCarthy out of the match with Scotland.

With Sexton injured, Kidney picked Ulster’s Jackson at fly-half instead of the vastly experienced Ronan O’Gara and the 21-year-old’s first touch was a nervy knock-on.

Regardless, the visitors had the edge in the opening exchanges, with Ulster centre Luke Marshall, also on debut, wreaking havoc in the Scotland ranks.

First, Marshall scythed through the Scotland midfield and set Keith Earls free, only for the Munster wing to be tackled short of the line. And a couple of minutes later Marshall should have put Gilroy in for a try in the other corner after another clean break but butchered the pass.

Ireland continued to apply pressure and prop Ryan Grant was shown a yellow card for interfering with Laidlaw’s run after 16 minutes, although Jackson missed the resulting penalty from out wide.

A minute before Grant’s re-appearance Ireland had another clear-cut try-scoring opportunity but Earls decided to go on the outside when he had Brian O’Driscoll inside him and was bundled into touch by Sean Maitland.

With Scotland leaking penalties at the scrum and breakdown Ireland continued to batter away at them. But the first points did not come until the 35th minute, when Jackson slotted a penalty from in front of the posts.

Gilroy try puts Ireland in control

Stuart Hogg’s long-range penalty attempt came up short on the stroke of half-time but Scotland would have been mightily relieved to be only three points behind. Ireland, meanwhile, should have been over the hill and far away.

The second half started where the first half left off, with Ireland coming in waves. But Scotland’s defence, which had hitherto been monumental, could hold out no longer and Gilroy pirouetted over for a try three minutes in.

However, two penalties from Laidlaw reduced the deficit to two points while two missed kicks by Jackson would have increased the visitors’ concern. That concern would have turned to genuine fear when Laidlaw gave Scotland the lead with another three-pointer after Ireland collapsed a maul.

Scotland Six Nations results and fixtures

Scotland v Ireland 6 nations

2 February: England 38 – 18 Scotland
9 February: Scotland 34 – 10 Italy
24 February: Scotland 12 – 8 Ireland
9 March: Scotland v Wales
16 March: France v Scotland

Entering the final quarter Scotland looked like the more vibrant side, while Ireland, feeling the need to take risks, began to make crucial mistakes.

O’Gara was introduced after 66 minutes but with Scotland content to kick for territory the Munster veteran was unable to make a mark.

Ireland camped out on Scotland’s try-line for the final few minutes but Scotland’s defence held firm, with the result confirmed when Marshall knocked-on.

Scotland: Hogg, Maitland, Lamont, Scott, Visser, Jackson, Laidlaw, Grant, Ford, Cross, Gray, Hamilton, Harley, Beattie, Brown.

Replacements: Weir for Jackson (60), Hall for Ford (45), Low for Cross (74), Kellock for Hamilton (72), Denton for Beattie (72).

Not Used: Welsh, Pyrgos, Evans.

Sin Bin: Grant (16).

Ireland: Kearney, Gilroy, O’Driscoll, L. Marshall, Earls, Jackson, Murray, Court, Best, Ross, O’Callaghan, Ryan, O’Mahony, Heaslip, O’Brien.

Replacements: Fitzgerald for Gilroy (60), O’Gara for Jackson (64), Reddan for Murray (70), Kilcoyne for Court (53), Toner for O’Callaghan (72), Henderson for O’Mahony (72).

Not Used: Cronin, Fitzpatrick.

Att: 67,006

Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).

Score / Results

Feb 24, 2013 RaboDirect PRO12 Zebre 13 – 14 Dragons
RaboDirect PRO12 Benetton Treviso 34 – 10 Munster
Six Nations / Centenary Quaich Scotland 12 – 8 Ireland Match pack
Aviva Premiership London Irish 30 – 19 London Wasps Match pack

Feb 23, 2013 Aviva Premiership Leicester Tigers 27 – 32 Saracens Match pack
NACRA Rugby Jamaica v USA South
RaboDirect PRO12 Leinster 32 – 5 Scarlets
Top 14 Orange Perpignan 32 – 16 Stade Français
Super Rugby Southern Kings 22 – 10 Force Match pack
Six Nations England 23 – 13 France Match pack Table
Super Rugby Cheetahs 22 – 29 Sharks Match pack
U20 Six Nations England Under-20s 40 – 10 France Under-20s
Aviva Premiership Northampton Saints 25 – 23 Bath Rugby Match pack
Aviva Premiership Exeter Chiefs 47 – 16 London Welsh Match pack
2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / Six Nations B Spain 15 – 25 Romania Table
2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / Six Nations B Portugal 18 – 12 Belgium Table
Six Nations Italy 9 – 26 Wales Match pack Table
Top 14 Orange Toulouse 42 – 6 Bayonne
Top 14 Orange Montpellier 15 – 13 Bordeaux Begles
Top 14 Orange Grenoble 10 – 17 Clermont Auvergne
Top 14 Orange Biarritz 11 – 23 Racing Metro
Top 14 Orange Agen 9 – 3 Mont-de-Marsan
2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / Six Nations B Russia 9 – 23 Georgia Table
Super Rugby Reds 25 – 17 Waratahs Match pack
Super Rugby Hurricanes 20 – 34 Blues Match pack
NACRA Rugby Turks and Caicos Islands v Mexico

Rugby Recap: Pro12: Leinster 32-5 Scarlets / Six Nations: Scotland beat Ireland in Murrayfield turnaround is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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