Ireland vs Scotland LIVE: Six Nations 2020 result and updates from today’s clash

PENALTY! Ireland 10-6 Scotland

From 38 metres or so and just left of centre, Johnny Sexton makes no mistake with a clean strike with a fair amount of footage to spare.

36 minutes

Ireland are just starting to find their groove. A clever kick from Conor Murray finds some open turf down the left and though Stuart Hogg is across to gather quickly, his inside pass invites the Irish chase on to an isolated Adam Hastings. The fly-half has little choice but to hold on as the jackals pick bits from his carcass, and Sexton will have another go at goal from a near identical position.

37 minutes

No dice. Sexton over-kicks it and drags it to the left of the uprights. 

37 minutes

No dice. Sexton over-kicks it and drags it to the left of the uprights. 

39 minutes

Breathless stuff! Garry Ringrose puts Bundee Aki into a huge hole in the Scottish defence and takes a return pass, jinking infield to look for support but unable to do so. Conor Murray looks back outside from the base of the ruck but Sam Johnson has spotted his intentions and snares the intercept.

He races away with coast-to-coast dreams but doesn't have the gas to power away from the Irish defenders, and Sean Maitland is also hauled down after taking Johnson's offload. There might be space on the right, though, and Adam Hastings lofts the cross field kick...

Blair Kinghorn claims and pops the ball backwards to Nick Haining, who in turn finds his captain. Stuart Hogg moves into the 22 and as a gap opens up it seems he may surge through it, but Ireland just about get bodies back to bring him to floor and get over the ball to draw the penalty.

That just about does us for the half, and Johnny Sexton boots the ball over the try line after another couple of phases as the big boys draw deep breaths.

HALF TIME: Ireland 10-6 Scotland

A relatively even first half in Dublin. Scotland started the brighter, with plenty of pace and depth on the ball, winning collisions and able to take an early lead through the boot of Adam Hastings. Ireland were able to hit back quickly, however, with Johnny Sexton the beneficiary of a clever move involving the handling skills of Cian Healy close to the line and the out-half dashing over.

Hastings brought Scotland back to within a point with a second accurate kick from the tee, before Sexton pushed the margin back out to four. Each has missed a shot from the tee, too, but the game is finely poised. 

Neither side has managed to find consistency or accuracy in their attacking play, but that has allowed an open and exciting game. Ireland will be confident they can close this out with the strength of their bench, but Scotland have shown some really promising signs.

Scotland have been in the Irish 22 six times, but taken just three points from those visits. They might well rue their inability to be clinical in the red area. They are without their first-choice fly-half, of course, who happens to excel at creatively finding space in tightly packed defences...

Gregor Townsend should be relatively pleased, however. They've certain been able to win collisions more consistently than they did in the World Cup. I've been impressed by the contributions of Nick Haining at number eight, too.

Ireland have coped well with the loss of Caelan Doris, removed after appearing to be knocked out in a clash of heads early on. The Scottish wide defence has looked porous at times, with Garry Ringrose and Jordan Larmour looking particularly threatening. They are targeting Huw Jones in the thirteen channel - defence isn't necessarily his strength.

They would like to be more clinical, too, and certainly more accurate in both possession and at the breakdown. They are, however, scavenging superbly - Josh van der Flier and Peter O'Mahony have been typically strong in that regard.

Here is that lovely try from Ireland. They really under-utilised the handling abilities of Tadhg Furlong and Cian Healy at the World Cup. A delightful touch from Healy here to help set-up Johnny Sexton.