Ireland secure World Cup quarter-final place after a blazing six try victory over Scotland

IRELAND have cemented their fate of going into the World Cup quarter-final's after an astounding 36-14 win against Scotland and topping pool B. 

The result of the game was sealed during the opening-half where Ireland kept the Scots scoreless as they looked shocked by the pace of the Irish attack. 

Ireland got off to an electric start with a fantastic step from Garry Ringrose, which ripped Scotland's defence apart before James Lowe got over in the corner with the first try for Ireland after one minute. Captain Johnny Sexton missed the conversion to leave them 5-0 ahead. 

This quick score was followed by immense attacking pressure from Scotland, who were camped down in the Irish half for over 10 minutes, but were unable to come away with any score with Ireland keeping the pressure on in defence. 

The kicking battle took over for large portions of the first-half before an incredible wrap around pass between Sexton and Ringrose gave full-back Huge Keenan space on the wing scoring Ireland's second try after 25 minutes. This time Sexton made no mistake with the conversion adding the extra two points. 

With huge momentum behind them, Ireland went onto score another patient try with the forwards doing a huge amount of work close to the line to send Ian Henderson over the white wash with Sexton adding the spoils. 

Scotland were caught infringing on more than one occasion in the closing minutes of the half but yet again Ireland's play maker, Sexton, remained came with an Irish advantage throwing a huge pass out to Keenan to score his second try of the night and the captain adding the two points, leaving Ireland with the bonus point in the bag and 26-0 ahead at the break. 

Frustration started to show from Scotland in the second-half with a huge scuffle occurring, seeing Scottish substitute Smith sent to the bin after 42 minutes of play. 

Ireland continued to be clinical in attack after the pause in play, going from one side of the pitch to the other to find Dan Sheehan in the corner. Sexton was unable to get the conversion from a hard angle in what was his last passage of play before being removed. 

The Irish team kept putting the nail in the coffin to see out the win with another fabulous piece of play from Munster out-half Jack Crowley, kicking a cross-field kick to find Ringrose in the corner with Crowley unable to make the conversion. 

Despite Scotland's best efforts in every aspect of the game they were unable to make any head-way until eventually replacement hooker Ewan Ashman got over the line after 64 minutes of play with Finn Russell adding the two points. 

This score was followed quickly by a break from Huw Jones to send support runner Ali Price off to score Scotland's second try with Russell adding the extra two and ending their scoring for the evening. 

After their 36-14 in, Ireland will now play New Zealand in the quarter's on Saturday, October 14, in the Stade de France at 8:00pm. 

Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jonathan Sexton (C), Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacments: Stuart McCloskey for Hansen (34 minutes), Conor Murray for Lowe (Half-Time), Jack Crowley for Sexton (45 minutes), Ronan Kelleher for Sheehan (48 minutes), Dave Kilcoyne for Porter (48 minutes), Finlay Bealham for Furlong (48 minutes), James Ryan for Beirne (48 minutes), Jack Conan for O'Mahony (48 minutes). 

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson; Richie Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Jamie Ritchie (C), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ollie Smith for Kinghorn (7 minutes), Matt Fagerson for Ritchie (18 minutes), Scott Cummings for Gilchrist (45 minutes), George Horne for Graham (50 minutes), Rory Sutherland for Schoeman (52 minutes), Ewan Ashman for Turner (59 minutes), WP Nel for Fagerson (59 minutes),  Luke Crosbie for Darge (64 minutes). 

Referee: Nick Berry (Australia)