Irish pipped by Scotland

A late try from Joe Ansbro sealed a 10-6 victory for Scotland over Ireland in what was a drab World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Ireland looked to be heading to a 6-3 win until London Irish centre Ansbro scorched over the whitewash with four minutes remaining following good running from replacement Nick de Luca.

However, that score was arguably the only moment of real entertainment for the 28,288 supporters who paid their money for tickets.

Declan Kidney will be happy to see Rob Kearney, Tomas O'Leary and Jerry Flannery getting action under their belts in their comebacks from injury.

Ireland held a slender 3-0 half-time lead as both sides were rather disjointed during the first 40.

Scotland suffered an early blow when Nikki Walker went off with a head knock, with Jack Cuthbert making his debut after 21 minutes.

Sexton's penalty in the 33rd minute was all that separated the sides at the break after veteran Scotland second-row forward Jim Hamilton was penalised for killing the ball.

Little improved in the second period although Scotland managed to level the scores after Denis Leamy was caught offside, allowing Paterson to kick the subsequent penalty.

Ireland went back in front with 15 minutes remaining as Sexton kicked well from 45 metres.

Paterson, usually unerringly accurate with the boot, sliced a straightforward penalty attempt wide before going off, as De Luca came on as one of three substitutes made by the Scots.

An indiscretion from prop Al Dickinson, who earlier came on for Allan Jacobsen, at the scrum granted Sexton another shot at goal, but the Ireland fly-half's effort fell short.

Scotland then burst into life four minutes from the end when De Luca rushed through before a long pass to Ansbro, who cut in off the wing for his first Test try.  Jackson added the extras.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Try:  Ansbro
Con:  Jackson
Pen:  Paterson

For Ireland:
Pen:  Sexton 2

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Joe Ansbro, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Rory Lawson (capt), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements:  16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 David Denton, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 Nick De Luca, 22 Jack Cuthbert.

Ireland:  15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Fergus McFadden, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Mike McCarthy, 5 Leo Cullen (capt), 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements:  16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 John Hayes, 19 Mick O'Driscoll, 20 Kevin McLaughlin, 20 Isaac Boss, 22 Felix Jones.

Referee:  Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees:  Dave Pearson and Stuart Terheege
TMO:  Geoff Warren