Ireland were in ruthless form as they cruised to a 36-14 win over Scotland to set up a blockbuster Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand. Andy Farrell’s side went into their final Pool B clash knowing victory would be enough to seal top spot, while Scotland needed a bonus-point win at the Stade de France and to deny Ireland any points of their own.
A fast start was almost a necessity, yet it was the Irish who found the opening try within 65 seconds. James Lowe went over out wide, before Hugo Keenan scored twice, either side of an Iain Henderson try, to secure the bonus point before half-time.
Ollie Smith was shown a yellow card for a trip on Johnny Sexton early in the second-half and the scoreboard was soon moving again, as Dan Sheehan and Garry Ringrose were both left with relatively simple finishes out wide. Scotland gave their fans in Paris something to cheer with two quickfire tries, as first Ewan Ashman and Ali Price went over for tries in the space of barely a minute, but by then the damage was well and truly done.
