article_snippet: The proud performance wasn’t without imperfection but their way more direct, full of running approach was enough for their to surpass the points target set by Wales earlier in the afternoon.
article_snippet: That would have considerably heightened the pressure to deliver but they were largely unfazed, throwing off the shackles and looking a side emboldened by finesse and hungry for scores.
article_snippet: Scotland Scotland initially refused to go along with Ireland’s best intentions.
article_snippet: Scotland may have offered up a dozen turnovers and bled on the penalty count by a rate of 12 to six, but Scotland were still combative to a degree despite getting held scoreless in a second half where Ireland dominated territory.
article_snippet: Scotland came close, mind, rallying well during Geoff Cross’ sin-binning and knocking on just metres short.
article_snippet: Even then Scotland sent Irish hearts a flutter, believing Scotland had scored in the corner with only minutes left only for the TMO review to prove Jamie Heaslip had excellently shunted the ball from Stuart Hogg’s hands before Stuart Hogg’s grounded.
article_snippet: and England nearly did so too in the final minute in Dublin.
article_snippet: Hogg’s near-miss followed, as did a penalty miss from Ian Madigan, before all eyes switched to England.
highlights_snippet: Wales cranked up the pressure beforehand with a pulsating second-half display against Italy giving them the win .