On St. Patrick’s Eve, the patron saint of Ireland, the rugby team, the country’s greatest pride, was proclaimed champion of the Six Nations after beating Scotland (17-13) on the last day played in Dublin. For the second consecutive year, Ireland was once again the best, winning its fifth title in the last decade. A record at the height of very few.
In a very physical match, Scotland managed to make Ireland not play comfortably. Even so, theirs was the only try of the first half and they went into the break winning by the bare minimum (7-6). Ireland came out determined to put the game away and Porter achieved a quick try that widened the gap. Still, Scotland would still have the strength to respond with another try from Huw Jones that brought them within four points with three minutes remaining.
But Ireland’s pulse did not tremble, not even when they were left one less due to the expulsion of Harry Byrne and resisted until they sealed the title. Who knows if the last of his captain, Peter O’Mahony: “I don’t know if it’s the last game, it wouldn’t be a bad one to end. I have to talk to the family and the team and I will decide in the coming weeks,” he confessed at the end of the game.
In front of their fans and at the doors of the national patron, Ireland celebrated this new title in style. Jamison Gibson-Park, named MVP of the game, highlighted how “special” it was to lift this trophy at home, in front of his family and friends. “It was a great game, a very tough one. The boys gave everything until the end. “I am proud of the entire team,” he said after the match.
Ireland’s victory over Scotland means that the title has been decided without having to wait for the last match of this last day, which faced France and England, with no longer any chance of winning the trophy.
