Arms thrown aloft, the reaction of the Ireland team at the final whistle bore the hallmarks of relief as much as euphoria. It took a momentous second half performance to ensure that Ireland's proud record of never having lost to the Scots at Under-21 level was maintained.
Ireland's performance in the first half was loose and nervous. Their rucking was poor, first up tackles lacked aggression and this was compounded by a lack of control.
The Scots, in contrast, were sharp, incisive and ran with purpose, looking to put the ball through the hands and ensure a fast, frenetic pace. For long periods of the opening 40 minutes this appeared to dazzle their opponents as Ireland struggled to establish any rhythm.
To their credit the Irish team rallied, settled down to their task and began to play in a more controlled manner. They trailed 7-3 after 32 minutes but then produced a superb try. Tom Keating set up a ruck in the Scottish 22, the outstanding Paul Neville drove forward and Peter Stringer and Brian O'Driscoll, the latter with a superb sidestep and floated pass, allowed right wing David Quinlan to cross close to the corner.
Geordan Murphy failed with the extra points having earlier kicked a penalty. Scotland's try was an equally fine effort, full back Paul Rutherford made the initial incision, and right wing Rory Kerr rounded Keating to put out-half Chris Paterson over in the corner. The Scottish out-half added a superb touchline conversion and then kicked a fine long range penalty on half-time to put the Scots 10-8 in front.
Ireland addressed their shortcomings for the second half and there were several excellent performances, not least from Stringer, Jeremy Staunton, Quinlan and Murphy behind the scrum with Neville, Richard Woods, Marcus Horan and replacement hooker John Fogarty conspicuous in the loose.
A second Paterson penalty stretched Scotland's advantage before Ireland replied with a try from replacement prop Simon Best. Leo Cullen did exceptionally well to rescue a ball that squirted from a scrum, five metres from the Scots line, Stringer fed Best and the big Newcastle prop barged over with a little help from his friends.
Murphy kicked a superb touchline conversion and Ireland ensured victory on 71 minutes with a try from Donnacha O'Callaghan. From a scrum on the Scottish 22, Cullen fed Stringer, who released Murphy through a gap and he rewarded the intelligent support play of O'Callaghan with a try scoring pass that the replacement second row did well to hold.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 8 mins: Murphy penalty, 0-3; 10: Paterson try, conversion, 7-3; 32: Quinlan try, 7-8; 40: Paterson penalty, 10-8. 53: Paterson penalty, 13-8; 58: Best try, Murphy conversion, 13-15; 71: O'Callaghan try, Murphy conversion, 13-22.
SCOTLAND: P Rutherford: R Kerr, I McInroy, A Dickson, M Di Rollo; C Paterson, R Chrystie; A Jacobsen, W Jones, L Harrison, J White, T Palmer, S Taylor, F Gladstone capt, A Martyn. Replacements: A Hall for Martyn (52 mins), C Di Ciacca for Jones (66 mins); M Lee for Chrystie (80 mins).
IRELAND: G Murphy (Leicester); D Quinlan (Blackrock), K Hartigan (Garryowen), B O'Driscoll (UCD), T Keating (Blackrock); J Staunton (Garryowen), P Stringer (UCC); M Horan (Shannon), P Smyth (St Mary's), J Campbell (Terenure); R Casey (Blackrock), M O'Driscoll (UCC); P Neville (Old Crescent), L Cullen (Blackrock, capt), R Woods (Dublin University). Replacements: J Fogarty (Cork Constitution) for Smyth (44 mins); S Best (Newcastle) for Campbell (54 mins); D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution) for M O'Driscoll (66 mins); S Baretto (Terenure) for Horan (80 mins).
Referee: D Davies (Wales).
