A momentary Scotland revival was in vain as defending Six Nations champions Ireland maintained their perfect start to the 2025 Championship with a 32-18 bonus point victory at the Murrayfield Stadium.
Simon Easterby's crop followed up their opening success over England with a professional and all-in-all straightforward success in Edinburgh, where Scotland only appeared threatening for a brief moment at the start of the second period.
Gregor Townsend's hosts were outwitted, out-muscled and outplayed in the first half, where Calvin Nash and Caelan Doris went over either side of a sickening collision between Scottish duo Darcy Graham and Finn Russell.
Graham was carted off after a long delay while Russell failed a head injury assessment (HIA), although a milestone try for Duhan van der Merwe - after a stint in the sin bin - offered the hosts a flicker of hope.
Van der Merwe's try represented his 15th in the Six Nations - and his first against Ireland - and Scotland came out all guns blazing at the start of the second period, reducing the deficit further courtesy of a pair of penalties.
Ireland extend their lead once more!#BBCRugby #BBCSixNations pic.twitter.com/wMIiF3GPqE
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 9, 2025
However, Townsend's men quickly ran out of steam again, allowing the champions to stretch their advantage once again through James Lowe and Jack Conan, while 21-year-old man of the match Sam Prendergast was almost unflappable from the tee.
Ben White's late try at least gave the home crowd something more to cheer as the hosts cut the deficit down by seven, but the 18-32 scoreline "flattered" Scotland, according to ex-England international Martin Johnson.
Ireland's routine success at Murrayfield marked their 11th win in a row for the Six Nations holders against Scotland, and Easterby's men remain at the summit of the table with 10 points, four clear of France and England.
Meanwhile, Scotland's five-point total sees them reside in fourth place in the standings, one point better off than Italy but comfortably four clear of struggling Wales.
What next in the 2025 Six Nations?
After a weekend off from Six Nations action, the competition recommences in a fortnight's time, as Warren Gatland's struggling Wales welcome a relentless Ireland to the Millennium Stadium on February 22.
A couple of hours later, England welcome Scotland to Twickenham for the 143rd meeting in their history, before round three concludes with Italy hosting France at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
Ben Knapton
