Europe 1 with AFP 8:05 p.m., March 12, 2023

By winning at wear and tear (22-7) in Scotland on Sunday, Ireland, led by Johnny Sexton who became the co-top scorer in the history of the Six Nations Tournament, offered itself the right to dream of a Grand Slam next Saturday, at the reception of England.

By winning with wear (22-7) in Scotland on Sunday, Ireland, led by Johnny Sexton who became the co-leading scorer in the history of the Six Nations Tournament, offered itself the right to dream of a Grand Slam next Saturday, at the reception of England.

Full of audacity, the XV du Chardon stood up for a little more than a period to the green machine, which only led 8-7 at the break, but two tries in quick succession from James Lowe and Jack Conan at the end. he hour of play definitely changed the game.

The Scots overwhelmed by their enthusiasm

Scotland were sometimes overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, like their senseless risk-taking, from the 6th minute, with a touch quickly played five meters from their line and which almost resulted in an opposing try, finally refused by the referee because it was played with a different ball.

Just before the break too, when they had a penalty in the middle and in the opposing camp, the Scots preferred to hit the key rather than try to get back in front of the score.

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Despite the ball well secured on the throw, the Scottish offense ended up in touch after sweeping the field from right to left.

They had all the same taken the advantage for a time when, after several playing times, Sione Tuipulotu had served Huw Jones at height to cross the last meter and a half (7-3).

Without a heroic tackle from Hugo Keenan a few meters from his line, on the colossus Duhan van der Merwe, launched, the locals could have regained the ascendancy (32nd).

Ireland can be beaten if the opponent pulls off the perfect game

But Greg Tonwsend will no doubt also deplore a problematic lack of discipline in such a match.

With 10 penalties conceded against 6 to Ireland and especially two disputes which cost them ten meters, Scotland did not make the task easy.

But it has nevertheless shown that this Ireland, which had made such a strong impression until then, in particular by dominating France in Dublin (32-19), can be beaten, even if it requires an almost perfect match.

Andy Farrell's men were there, even if they felt the physical impact of the opposition by losing forwards Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan and Iain Henderson in the first period and evolving from the 48th without a hooker after the injury of Ronan Kelleher, Sheehan's replacement.

Ten minutes from the end, Garry Ringrose also had to be evacuated on a stretcher and with a neck brace after a shock to the head, while trying to tackle Blair Kinghorn.

Bypass rather than drill

But the greens dominated the match and without heroic and sometimes crafty defenses on their Scottish line (10th, 35th), the score could have swelled before the break.

The green machine really got going in the 27th minute when, after gaining ground on each carry, the offensive went wide where Matt Hansen resisted van der Merwe's charge to flatten in a corner (7- 8).

In the second half, after a balanced start, they again rounded rather than pierced the dark blue curtain to create the first significant gap (7-15, 56th), thanks to the other winger, James Lowe, and the boot of Sexton .

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Four minutes later, again along the sideline, Jack Conan drove home the point, giving Sexton the chance to equal Ronan O'Gara's Tournament scoring record of 557 points.

The Leinster opener did not need to be asked (7-22, 61st).

Humiliated at home 10-53 by France on Saturday, the English can tremble before their trip to Dublin, because it would take a miracle for the Blues, still mathematically in the race if they crush weak Wales, to keep their trophy.