Ireland clinched the Triple Crown with a 26-5 victory over Scotland in Dublin, but failed to seal the overall Six Nations title after France beat England in Paris to win the Grand Slam.
Ireland’s win kept their title hopes alive for only a few hours before France out-muscled England in the decisive game.
Although Ireland were not at their very best, a first clean sweep of their “home nation” rivals in four years looked rarely in doubt after first half tries from front rows Dan Sheehan and Cian Healy and a third on the hour from Josh van der Flier.
Replacement scrumhalf Conor Murray’s last-gasp bonus point try removed another title-winning option from the equation, that of a rare bonus-point draw for the French, leaving just a Grand Slam-securing victory on the table.
“I think for the first time ever we’re cheering for England tonight,” captain Johnny Sexton said with a wide smile in a pitchside interview.
“I don’t think it was perfect by any means, we did just enough but exactly what we wanted to do. Five points, puts us in the hunt, puts the pressure on France.”
With nothing to lose, fourth placed Scotland came flying out of the blocks and provided a few early reminders of just how dangerous they can be with ball in hand. Still, it was Ireland’s more controlled attack that struck first.
Man of the match Sheehan, who is Leinster’s joint-top try scorer this season with seven tries in eight appearances, most of them off the bench, made it two in seven for Ireland when he finished off a period of persistent Irish dominance.
Ireland relentlessly went after more scoreboard pressure — as they so often do once they get in front — and another wave of forward play yielded a second try for the front row, this time for Healy on his 116th Ireland appearance.
Scotland’s efforts were rewarded five minutes from the break when prop Pierre Schoeman powered over for his first international try and only the fourth Ireland had conceded all tournament.
Blair Kinghorn, in for regular flyhalf Finn Russell, missed the easy conversion and captain Stuart Hogg coughed up an even better chance to cut the 14-5 deficit early in the second half when he opted to go for the corner rather than pass inside, only to be stopped by a superb tackle from opposite number Hugo Keenan.
Ireland had plenty of possession with little to show for it until Van der Flier, one of the most consistent performers in Andy Farrell’s ever improving side, accelerated over to make it a much more comfortable 16-point lead with 20 minutes to go.
The extra point looked like it was slipping away until Scotland were reduced to 14 men before the last play of the game when winger James Lowe was powered on by his forwards and popped a basketball pass back inside for Murray to score.
His teammates celebrated as if it was the game-winning try and began to dream of potentially wilder scenes later on.
Earlier on Saturday, Italy stunned Wales ending their 36-game losing streak.
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