IRELAND HEAD COACH Andy Farrell has said Ireland's 'gutsy' 22-7 win over Scotland at Murrayfield is 'the best of his coaching career.'
Ireland lost forwards Dan Sheehan, Caelan Doris, and Iain Henderson in the opening 30 minutes.
Ireland went into the break 8-7 up thanks to a Mack Hansen try. The Australian cancelled out Huw Jones opening try.
Things would get worse for Ireland on the injury front in the second half when their starting hooker Ronan Kelleher also had to leave the pitch.
Fantastic to see Garry Ringrose to give the thumbs up as he went off ❤️ (📸 @INPHOjames) #SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/QhOnIibDxP
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) March 12, 2023
World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier a back rower was then tasked with hooker duties.
Van der Flier was then later replaced by Cian Healy as Ireland's hooker when he came on.
Gary Ringrose later had to leave on a stretcher with an oxygen mask on after suffering a head injury.
Ireland would go onto score three tries after Hansen, James Lowe and Jack Conan closed out the game.
James Ryan could have sealed a bonus point win for Ireland, but his wayward pass to Lowe near the end of the second half could not find his Leinster teammate.
The win ended Scotland's chance to win their first Triple Crown since 1990 and this year's Six Nations Championship.
Speaking to the media after the game Farrell said, "It was immense, the character”
“It wasn’t champagne rugby, but in terms of character, fight and want for each others, that’s the best game I’ve been involved.
“If you’d have seen us at half-time, honestly, you’d have laughed because all the lads were laughing.
“It was organised chaos; we didn’t know what was happening until the last second about whether Ronan was coming back on.
“We made half a plan with Cian going to scrummage, because he’s good at that and that paid off for us.
“Josh throwing in, well what can’t he do?
“He took up golf three years ago and he’s in single figures on his handicap.
“I just thought for somebody like Garry on his 50th cap, that we’re able to do a special performance with all the controversy. Someone like Garry deserves something like that to look back on.”
Ireland now welcome Steve Borthwick's England to Dublin next Saturday for the Grand Slam decider.
England were battered by France 10-53 at Twickenham last Saturday and will have to lick their wounds for the visit to Dublin.
A win for Ireland will result in a first Grand Slam win in five years
"It is what dreams are made of. To play England at home on the last weekend, on St Paddy's weekend, for a Grand Slam, it doesn't get any better than that," added Farrell.
"We'll have a few down days to get our legs back and then we'll have a hit-out or two and get our plan together and make sure we're in the right space for training."
Ireland's game against England starts at 5pm.
✅ 34-10 vs Wales
✅ 32-19 vs France
✅ 34-20 vs Italy
✅ 22-7 vs Scotland
Ireland host England next weekend with hopes of completing another Grand Slam 🍀 pic.twitter.com/4JINNJBCp5— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 12, 2023
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