Hugo Keenan
As ever sound under high balls. You wonder why they kick them at him. Later in the game he ran some attacking lines when space allowed. His chase from Jamison Gibson-Park’s up and under earned Jack Conan a try. Rating: 8
Calvin Nash
Took his try with composure and almost had another in the first half before being pushed off his run. Got involved in the chaotic first half but was quieter later before giving way. Rating: 7
Robbie Henshaw
Made good yards in congested areas and was a big athletic presence when Scotland pressed up. Never faltered when his body had to go on the line either side of the ball. Rating: 7
Bundee Aki
Didn’t get the ball in hand in space as much as he did to great effect against England. A lot of his work was low yardage gains and good strong defending during Scotland’s purple patches. Rating: 7
James Lowe
Very actively involved from the beginning, taking on the ball on the wing and inside positions. Finally rewarded with a trademark try using his muscle and tenacity to get over the line. Excellent. Rating: 8
Sam Prendergast
Lovely pass to Nash for the first try, showing awareness and poise. Blocked Blair Kinghorn and held on to the ball in the tackle for the Caelan Doris try. More promise shown in an excellent outing. Rating: 8
Jamison Gibson-Park
Ever-alert scrumhalf put himself about and did well to bring control in a messy first half. Chased down Kinghorn and then excellently chipped and chased in the second half. Rating: 9
Andrew Porter
Huge presence both sides of the ball and even got up fast on Kinghorn to block a kick. Much of his effort and work goes unseen but he always put his considerable strength to good effect. Rating: 8
Rónan Kelleher
Very active when he was on and almost got in for a try. Good tackling and defensive work and always a threat ball in hand. Played as if he knew his time was limited and made the most of it. Rating: 7
Finlay Bealham
For all the talk of the scrum it was rock solid and Bealham did his piece there. Was busy in defence and got an important tackle in on the breaking Zander Fagerson in the second half. Rating: 7
James Ryan
Did a lot of the hot and heavy work tackling and cleaning out. Nicked a lineout before the break on the Scotland throw. Didn’t get much space to stretch his legs but effective in the breakdown. Rating: 7
Tadhg Beirne
Ireland missed him in the lineout when he went off for a HIA in the first half. Excellent in mauls and an uncanny ability to get hands on the ball. A typical abrasive and impactful game. Rating: 8
Peter O’Mahony
Did many good things in the first half including a turnover. Was in the thick of defending and taking on ball in congested traffic. Missed a catch but overall made an impact in his time on the pitch. Rating: 7
Josh van der Flier
Didn’t get the space to run much in a frantic first 40 minutes but knuckled down in the breakdown dogfight and as space opened up in the second half we saw more flashes of the red scrum cap. Rating: 7
Caelan Doris
Picked a really good line between two players for his first-half try. An intelligent performance with a high work rate and poise especially in the periods that Scotland were threatening. Rating: 7
Replacements
Jack Conan probably made the biggest impact off the bench with a try and will hope for a start against Wales, while Jack Crowley also made his mark. Rating: 8
Coach
Simon Easterby’s first Six Nations match away from home as interim head coach ended well. He had Ireland at the right pitch from the beginning and they never lost the lead. Two from two, a good start. Rating: 8
