Scotland player ratings

Compiled by GAVIN CUMMISKEY

Compiled by GAVIN CUMMISKEY

15 Stuart Hogg 6

Lost the head-to-head duel with Kearney for Lions selection, fumbling an early garryowen and unable to find space to run.

14 Sean Maitland 6

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Out muscled Keith Earls when contesting one high ball but another flyer unable to find room to show his electric pace.

13 Sean Lamont 5

Largely anonymous, making the scoreline all the more strange. Outplayed by O’Driscoll in every aspect.

12 Matt Scott 6

Another Scot who lost the personal duel with his opposite number without it influencing the result. Made some important tackles.

11 Tim Visser 5

A couple of flashes but this was not a game for the back three to shine.

10 Ruaidhri Jackson 4

Duncan Weir looks a better fit. It was a match Scotland won despite their outhalf failing to leave a memorable imprint.

9 Greg Laidlaw 7

Had some difficult moments but when Scotland needed him he delivered with four penalties in the second half.

1 Ryan Grant 7

12 tackles is brilliant for a prop. His sin-binning for an arm drop on Jackson wasn’t punished by the young outhalf’s subsequent penalty on 16 minutes.

2 Ross Ford 6

Scrummed well, but it helps to have such powerful locks heaving behind, he had one throw picked off by Donncha O’Callaghan.

3 Geoff Cross 7

Concerns about his ability to come in for Euan Murray were allayed, edging Court and Kilcoyne in the scrums.

4 Richie Gray 6

His height also damaged Ireland’s lineout possession and, like his teammates, he worked savagely on this oddest route to victory.

5 Jim Hamilton 7

Got plenty of back slaps for an early destruction of Ireland’s scrum and was a constant nagging influence when sensing Best’s lineout difficulties.

6 Rob Harley 7

Can take some credit for Ireland’s lineout woes as he got a hand to a few Best throws. Never stopped tackling on the gainline.

7 Kelly Brown 8

His 15 tackles included two heroic hits at the end. Beat O’Brien on the ground but it was his leadership and defence that mattered.

8 John Beattie 7

This was a game when the backrow scrambling defence was king and Beattie sacrificed himself for the cause.

The Bench 7

Did little more than the Irish bench but in this brutal and bizarre game it didn’t matter.