Scotland 7-22 Ireland
The Grand Slam is now just one win away for Ireland after they survived and thrived in the madness of Murrayfield.
Yet again Andy Farrell's side had to overcome real adversity in this championship campaign, and yet again they came through with the victory.
It sets up a shot at glory against England at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.
Farrell will have to delve deep into his squad once more for that one, however, as Ireland lost four forwards to injury in Edinburgh - the first three by the 25th minute, the fourth 10 minutes after half-time - including both his hookers.
Typically of this team, it remained business as usual in front of the sell-out 67,144 crowd who had come to see their team claim a first Triple Crown since 1990 and a first victory over Ireland in eight attempts.
Cian Healy came into the middle of the front row with no fuss and Josh van der Flier stepped in as the lineout thrower. Possession was lost on two of the flanker's five throws and Healy claimed an important scrum penalty.
The visitors also lost Garry Ringrose with seven minutes left when the centre's head collided with hip. Thankfully, he was conscious and talking when he left the pitch on a medical cart.
By that stage it was game over and the Scots' hopes of reviving their title hopes were gone with it as Stuart Hogg's 100th appearance ended in familiar disappointment.
But while this was a two-score game in the visitors' favour, it was a serious contest until the 57th minute, with depleted Ireland holding onto a one point lead until James Lowe's try.
The introduction of Jamison Gibson-Park made the difference as Ireland's tempo hit overdrive and, just like the Kilkenny hurlers in their pomp, they then struck again in ruthless fashion to cruise out of sight.
Fittingly, skipper Johnny Sexton's clutch conversions brought him level with Ronan O'Gara at the top of the Six Nations all-time points list.
Ireland thought they had scored the first try when, for the second time in a quick succession, Scots hooker George Turner threw to an opponent in the lineout.
Caelan Doris won it spectacularly at the tail and Dan Sheehan muscled over, but ref Luke Pearce disallowed the score because Turner hadn't thrown in the same ball that Sexton had kicked into touch.
It was a serious let off for the hosts but Ireland kept the pressure on and, when Hansen couldn't finish in the corner with penalty advantage, Sexton kicked the first points of the game in the 13th minute.
Still, it was a blow to lose Doris at the same time with the world class no 8 limping off having been injured as he fell winning that lineout ball.
Jack Conan came on and, with his colleagues, was immediately on the defensive as the Scots pushed into the visitors' 22.
The home side were denied initially but there was no stopping Huw Jones as he ran onto centre partner Sione Tuipulotu's pass as Ringrose missed a crucial tackle. Finn Russell's conversion made it 7-3 in the 19th minute.
Worse for Ireland, they lost Dan Sheehan to an injury in conceding the try and Rónan Kelleher replaced him.
The Scots had their tails up and a Russell turnover, followed by a penalty awarded against Sexton for not releasing, added to the contented mood of the locals.
Andrew Porter was pinged at scrum time but the Scots' progress was halted by Ringrose's hack upfield before Ireland had to make another change - Iain Henderson cradled his arm coming off as Ryan Baird replaced him.
Undeterred, Ireland scored their first try in the 28th minute - and man of the match Mack Hansen did brilliantly to score it.
The winger took off at speed onto Hugo Keenan's long pass and managed to ground the ball right in the corner as van der Merwe pile-drived him into touch. Sexton was off-target with the difficult conversion.
Scotland's next attack looked destined to result in a try as Russell fed van der Merwe, but van der Flier pounced at the breakdown for an important turnover penalty win.
Lowe's break in midfield push Ireland back into familiar territory - Ringrose and Bundee Aki trucked it up close to their rivals' line only for Hogg to cleverly kill the attack by encroaching at the ruck.
Sexton kicked the penalty to the corner but Kelleher overcooked his throw for James Ryan and another chance was lost.
With half-time moments away and with Ireland offside just inside their own half, Russell kicked for the corner rather than at the posts - but Ireland's defence held firm for a 8-7 half-time lead.
It was a loose, error-strewn start to the second half, it's bizarre nature added to when van der Flier was forced to take Ireland's lineouts as Kelleher became the latest injury victim in the 49th minute and Healy returned from injury in his place.
The visitors dug in and the game's key phase played out from Healy's scrum win.
On for Conor Murray, Gibson-Park marked his first minutes of championship action in this campaign with a perfect box kick deep into Scottish territory that was plucked from the air by Hansen.
Sexton took it on and the ball was moved from right to left, where Lowe had the space to score in the 57th minute. Even better for Ireland, the captain nailed the conversion from close to the touchline.
Six minutes later the skipper repeated the trick from the other side after the jinking Hansen sucked in Scotland's defence before finding the outstanding Conan, who powered over.
There was a long wait as Ringrose got treatment before Ireland came agonisingly close to their fourth successive bonus point.
Lowe combined with Gibson-Park down the right flank and the scrum-half zipped the ball inside for James Ryan, but the big lock knocked on in the tackle as he tried to put Lowe clear.
Pearce had awarded Ireland a five metre penalty but Healy failed to tap it and the chance of the fourth try was lost.
But make no mistake, this was a massive victory for this team.
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