Six Nations 2013: Scotland keeps title hopes alive by beating Ireland

Six Nations witnessed a turnaround as Scotland bettered their performance in the second half and kept their chances alive of winning the title. Ireland were dominant in the first half with 70% of ball possession, but could manage to go up only 3-0. Scotland went into the match deriving confidence from their last week’s win against Italy and managed to emerge as winners once again.

Ireland were plagued by injuries as they went into their third Six Nations match with Simon Zebo and Gordon D’Arcy out of the tournament and Jonathan Sexton and Mike McCarthy out of the match against Scotland. On the paper, it looked like Ireland had played a dominating game, but the scoreline suggested a different story.

It is the first time Ireland has lost back-to-back Six Nation matches since 2008, while for Scotland, it was their first back-to-back victory in the Six Nations since 2001. As the game moved into the last quarter of the match, Scotland looked a different side from the team, which played the first quarter.

Lamenting the defeat, Irish player, O’Callaghan said, “This will dent our confidence and we must be honest with each other. It wasn’t good enough by us today. We’re not at Test level to learn, but to win.” “You feel like you’ve let everyone down and that’s the worst part. You’re a bit ashamed and that’s the way the players were in the dressing room.”

Scotland now face Wales in the fourth round while the Greens see victory less France in a must win encounter.

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