Ireland were in ruthless form as they cruised to a 36-14 win over Scotland to set up a blockbuster Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.
Andy Farrell’s side went into their final Pool B clash knowing victory would be enough to seal top spot, while Scotland needed a bonus-point win at the Stade de France and to deny Ireland any points of their own.
A fast start was almost a necessity, yet it was the Irish who found the opening try within 65 seconds. James Lowe went over out wide, before Hugo Keenan scored twice, either side of an Iain Henderson try, to secure the bonus point before half-time.
James Ritchie and Blair Kinghorn were forced off in what was a miserable first-half for Scotland, and the second did not begin in much more positive fashion.
Ollie Smith was shown a yellow card for a trip on Johnny Sexton and the scoreboard was soon moving again, as Dan Sheehan and Garry Ringrose were both left with relatively simple finishes out wide.
Scotland gave their fans in Paris something to cheer with two quickfire tries, as first Ewan Ashman and Ali Price went over for tries in the space of barely a minute, but by then the damage was well and truly done.
Ireland will take on the All Blacks in the last eight, seeking to avenge the 46-14 thrashing suffered at the same stage of the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Head coach Andy Farrell perhaps has cause for concern ahead of that showdown due apparent injuries suffered by wings Mack Hansen and Lowe.
A deafening roar greeted the teams as they ran out in Paris, and the decibels were raised further among the dominant Irish support with just over a minute on the clock when Hansen sent Lowe over in the left corner after Ringrose dummied his way beyond Grant Gilchrist.
Scotland roared back and showed a statement of intent by kicking a series of penalties to the corner, forcing Ireland to ferociously repel prolonged pressure.
But their cause was not helped by losing full-back Kinghorn, whose 50th cap lasted just nine minutes, and captain Ritchie, while Ireland wing Hansen also went off.
Ireland’s defiant defending was matched equally by awesome attacking enterprise and they stretched the scoreboard significantly with two quickfire tries.
Delightful slick interplay from right to left unlocked the Scottish backline, culminating in Ringrose teeing up the onrushing Keenan in the 27th minute, before Henderson marked his first start of the tournament by bulldozing over minutes later.
Ireland’s well-oiled machine led 26-0 ahead at that stage with a bonus point in the bag after Sexton set up Keenan’s second and then sent over his third successful conversion.
Scotland desperately needed to show some fight and did so as tempers boiled over early in the second period during a melee sparked by Smith’s off-the-ball trip on Sexton.
Players from both sides piled in, with Pierre Schoeman and Sheehan ploughing over an advertising board, before instigator Smith was sin-binned.
Sheehan was on the floor again minutes later, this time diving over to claim Ireland’s fifth try before Farrell wisely withdrew talisman Sexton, in addition to five of his forwards.
Jack Crowley’s fine cross-field kick sent over Ringrose before Scottish resistance finally materialised in the shape of a pair of well-taken scores, each converted by the largely subdued Finn Russell.
Replacement hooker Ashman made an immediate impact by galloping over on the right to ensure his side were not whitewashed, before scrum-half Price finished a fine team move.
Yet their endeavours mattered little as Ireland comfortably marched on thanks to a 17th successive win and a ninth in a row against the eliminated Scots.
