2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 2, BT Murrayfield, Scotland 9/2/2019Scotland vs IrelandIreland’s Keith Earls scores a try Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Six Nations: Results, pics, highlights and standings as of 9 February [video]

There were wins for Ireland and Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations Championship matches with the Dragons ending the day on top of the table.

by James Richardson

09-02-2019 21:22

in Rugby

2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 2, BT Murrayfield, Scotland 9/2/2019Scotland vs IrelandIreland’s Keith Earls scores a try Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Ireland got their defence of the Six Nations Championship back on track by grinding out a result at Murrayfield against Scotland to kick off the weekend’s action.

Joe Schmidt’s troops were looking to bounce back from a 20-32 loss to England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin last week while Scotland were riding high after a bonus point win over Italy.

As always the Murrayfield crowd was in fine voice and treated us to a spine-tingling rendition of the Flower of Scotland.

Scotland 13-22 Ireland

Scotland were on the board first through an early penalty but Ireland pounced on some sploppy play by Scotland to run in an opportunistic score on the kick chase.

Ireland spent just fifteen seconds in Scotland’s 22 in the first half but three of those were during Jacob Stockdale’s sprint to the line having scythed through from 30 metres out.

six nations 2019 — Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Jacob Stockdale celebrates scoring a try 9/2/2019 — Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale celebrates scoring a try. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Scotland got back into the contest with a try created by halfback Finn Rusell who pulled of an intercept and a perfectly timed pop pass to Sam Johnson for the centre’s first international try.

Ultan Dillane with Jonny Gray in the line-out 9/2/2019 — Scotland vs IrelandIreland’s Ultan Dillane with Jonny Gray of Scotland in the line-out. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Scotland lost Stuart Hogg to injury in the first half while their rivals were robbed of influential pivot Jonny Sexton.

Scotland v Ireland - Guinness Six Nations — Photo: Gallo / Getty Images

Ireland’s third try came in the second half and appeared to finally establish the visitors as the favourites to claim the tie.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Keith Earls of Ireland scores his sides third try during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield on February 9, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Scotland 13-22 Ireland video highlights

2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 2, BT Murrayfield, Scotland 9/2/2019Scotland vs IrelandIreland’s Conor Murray with Fraser Brown and Grant Gilchrist of ScotlandMandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Italy 15-26 Scotland

Italy were no match for a Wales side that have ambitions of challenging the game’s elite in the second match of the day in Rome.

Wales started the game very strongly but after a great start they allowed Italy back into the contest. It was the boot of Dan Biggar that established a 12 point lead in the first half hour for Wales but Italy scored the game’s first try.

South African-born Braam Steyn crossed the whitewash in the 33rd minute of the first half for Italy but they trailed 7-12 at the break in Rome.

Wales didn’t make the most of their early dominance but second half tries from Josh Adams and Owen Watkin and the boot of Biggar were enough to see off the Italian challenge despite a late try for Edoardo Padovani.