Player Ratings: Ireland

Yesterday at 12:15 PM

OPINION: Ireland player ratings: Scotland certainly put it up to Ireland in a chaotic 32-18 scrap in Murrayfield, but the men in green showed their class to effectively smother the home side until the result was out of reach.

Here's how we rated the Ireland team:

1. Andrew Porter – 8
Anchored the scrum like a dwarven anvil, solid and unyielding under pressure. Showed up in unlikely spots, even popping up block-down kicks he had no right to get near.

2. Ronan Kelleher – 7
Lineouts wobbled after an immaculate shift against England. Did the unseen graft around the park without clamouring for the spotlight. Didn't return after the break.

3. Finlay Bealham – 6
Dealt with the Rory Sutherland threat well, delivering stability when it mattered. He might not grab the headlines, but his contribution was solid.

4. James Ryan – 7
The newly bearded Ryan led with a no-nonsense approach in tight exchanges. Carried decently in traffic, always grinding out a few extra metres.

5. Tadhg Beirne – 8.5
Operated at the breakdown like a cunning shapeshifter, always appearing at the right place to pinch turnovers. Was a constant nuisance factor in defence after returning from a HIA in the ninth minute. Tried to buy a yellow after a minor tussle in the 36th minute, which was frankly beneath him.

6. Peter O'Mahony – 6
Marshalled the pack as if a grizzled warlord, never short of a word for the Scottish pack. Always in the thick of it, setting the tone with his combative edge, even if age may be limiting his effectiveness.

7. Josh van der Flier – 7
Covered every blade of grass, calmly racking up tackles and hitting rucks like clockwork. Not a headline-grabber this time, but his tireless work kept Ireland ticking over.

8. Caelan Doris – 8
Powered through contact, consistently making yards and tying in defenders. Showed his rugby intelligence by appearing in all the right places for crucial carries, which eventually paid off on a third time of asking in the 31st-minute try. A return to form after a quiet afternoon against England.

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9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 8.5
Played the orchestrator-in-chief, having a hand in two Irish tries and countless attacking raids. His rugby intelligence shone through in quick decision-making, dictating the tempo, and dissecting the Scottish defence.

10. Sam Prendergast – 7.5
More high-stakes rugby from the Leinsterman, who mixed looping passes and nerve-shredding crossfield kicks. Put Nash away with a perfectly executed lob over the top of Scotland's defence. A lack of concentration on occasion but far, far more good than bad this week.

11. James Lowe – 8
Rumbled forward like an unstoppable juggernaut on a few occasions, though the Scots mostly kept him in check. Always looking to spark something from the backfield, he wouldn't take no for an answer to power his way through Blair Kinghorn for an important 53rd-minute try.

12. Bundee Aki – 6
Charged into contact with trademark directness, even if his hands let him down on occasion. Bloodied and bruised, he never shied away from the confrontational aspects of midfield duty.

13. Robbie Henshaw – 6
A bright start to the game with two powerful early carries. Yes, his distribution was a tad agricultural at times but his reading of the game was scholarly, in the first half at least. Kept Huw Jones quiet until an ill-judged attempt to shoot out of the line gifted the rapid Scot 40 metres in the 45th minute and was lucky to get away with a potential professional foul in the very next phase.

14. Calvin Nash – 7.5
In for the injured Mack Hansen, looked sharp in limited opportunities, sniping up the wing with intent. Took his try well and nearly created another a few minutes later chasing down and keeping a kick infield, only to be nudged by Duhan van der Merwe off the ball. Got dumped on a few occasions but there's no denying his finishing instincts.

15. Hugo Keenan – 7
Was a fault for biting in on Stafford McDowall for Duhan van der Merwe's try before the break. A safe pair of hands in the air and his call for and subsequent kick chase of JGP's kick set-up Jack Conan's try that gave Ireland breathing space.

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REPLACEMENTS

16. Dan Sheehan – 6
Tried to inject dynamism when he came on after the break, offering an extra running threat in open play, but maybe tried a little too hard to make things happen.

17. Cian Healy – NA
Not on long enough to rate.

18. Thomas Clarkson – 7
Slotted into the front row without fuss, maintaining stability at scrum time. With Bealham ageing is it time he got a start?

19. Ryan Baird – NA
Came on as a HIA replacement only to leave the field minutes later for his own HIA. He didn't return.

20. Jack Conan – 8
Stepped in to add punch to Ireland's ball-carrying and keep the tempo high in his two stints on the field. Made his mark with a try and his smart breakdown plays. A real super-sub effort that should see him in contention to

21. Conor Murray – NA
A composed cameo but not long enough to rate.

22. Jack Crowley – 6
Slotted in at fullback after some switch-a-roos by the Irish management.

23. Garry Ringrose – 6.5
Offered a reassuring presence in the midfield late on, switching seamlessly into the defensive line. Calm under pressure, reminding everyone of his top-class credentials. Gave Lions' rival Huw Jones a rib-tickler in the dying moments.