IRELAND went to Murrayfield last Saturday with a twofold objective: to end the season's International Championship with a win and to end Scotland's unbeaten record against Ireland that stretches back nine matches to 1988. We left the scene after a match and a performance from Ireland that was another deadly blow and embarrassment to Irish rugby pride and tradition.

The wind howled around the ground, the surface was saturated as the rain poured down from a leaden and overcast sky. Perhaps such a sombre a pre-match setting was ominous for Ireland, who had not won at the ground since 1985.

By the end of this match Ireland had been reduced to a tattered remnant as the Scots exercised control for most of the match and then ran riot in the closing stages against a side that once more capitulated in the final phase and conceded 14 points in the last five minutes.

By so doing, it enabled Scotland to score a record victory. It was Scotland's biggest winning margin over Ireland in 109 matches, and their highest points total. So yet another unwanted statistic to stand as an indictment on what was a dreadful performance.

The Scots, themselves on the wrong end of record defeats by Wales and England this season, thus made the journey from rags to undreamed of riches against an Ireland side that was by the end a disorganised and disjointed shambles. To call the Ireland players professionals after this performance is to stand guilty of breaching the Trades Description Act.

From a start that kindled some hope as Ireland took a seven-point lead playing with the benefit of the swirling wind, the feeling had turned to apprehension by halftime; by the end, it was humiliation. The final whistle came as a relief. Sadly, once more it was that kind of occasion.

Yet again as the match entered its final stage and all hope had gone, one wished the minutes away to avoid another embarrassment. Sure enough, no variation on a recurring theme as, almost on cue, the devastation came as the Irish defence was ripped apart and another entry put in the debit ledger.

There can be little doubt - in the current language of professional sport - some Irish players can be prepared to become free agents. Contractual wrangling will not concern them.

The Scots had a receptive audience as they rucked and mauled Ireland into submission and into the ground. So poor was this performance from the Ireland pack, however, that could not be described a singular achievement.

The holes appeared in the Ireland defence on the fringes and the Scots were allowed free access down the corridors. They were given the freedom they liked and time after time the Irish back row was marked absent. Ireland knew the type of game the Scots would seek to play and gave them all the latitude to play it.

It would be easier to accept this defeat were the Scots a really powerful side, but moderate competence was all that was required.

Anticipation is part of the essence of defensive play, but it is a lesson that seems to have been lost on Ireland as the back row was taken apart, and the team as unit - if I may be so bold as to use the word unit - gave one of the poorest performances I have seen. It bordered on the shameful.

A 7-7 scoreline at the interval did not promise well for Ireland who had played with the wind. Ireland might have scored twice in the initial 10 minutes. Jonathan Bell charged down a kick from Gregor Townsend and Tony Stanger's clearance went into touch in goal. Scotland held Ireland's attempts to break the defence at the cost of a penalty. Another scrum, again Scotland held firm. A good diagonal break by Bell saw the ball spilled in midfield, and a chance lost.

Then, in the 23rd minute, Ireland struck from defence in their own half. Jim Staples made a great run down the right, kicked ahead to the Scotland line and Denis Hickie was in full flight and scored on the right. David Humphreys kicked a good conversion and Ireland led by seven points. Unfortunately, Staples was carried off after tearing a hamstring in his run that led to the try. Conor O'Shea came on as a replacement.

But the signs were already ominous. The Scots were getting on top up front. Even in the lineout, where Jeremy Davidson has done so well this season (he looked a tired player on this occasion), the Scots overwhelmed the Irish.

With 32 minutes gone Scotland scored. They rucked their way to near the Irish line from near halfway, the ball was worked to Craig Chalmers, he took out the defence and Alan Tait celebrated his return after nine years of rugby league by scoring a try. Rowan Shepherd converted. Humphreys was wide with a penalty attempt and we awaited the second half with some anxiety.

It was well founded. The Ireland backs were seeing less and less of the ball as the half progressed, and Ireland declined with each passing minute, without fight or fire. O'Meara threw out some good passes, but some of his kicking was short, even allowing for the wind, and not always well judged.

Not that he was given much protection. The Irish backs were left with more defensive chores as the game progressed. The Scots rucked with authority and at times gained acres of ground with the maul. They broke off the fringes and sought - and found - the holes.

Content in their supremacy up front, they kept it tight, and Bryan Redpath and Chalmers at halfback were content to put their faith in the pack; it was well rewarded.

Shepherd kicked a penalty to give his side the lead in the 48th minute, and nine minutes later number eight Peter Walton broke from the back of a scrum and swept past three Irish players whose attempts to tackle him were, to say the least, less than full-hearted. Shepherd converted and it was 17-7.

Ireland did have one chance subsequently to get a try after David Corkery blocked down a clearance. The ball went to Ben Cronin, whose return to the international arena could scarcely be said to have been auspicious, but went to ground. Ireland did get a penalty and Humphreys kicked the goal.

That score came in the 61st minute. Six minutes later Doddie Weir was given the freedom of the ground to crash his way over the Ireland line for a try. Shepherd, whose kicking was excellent, converted and it was 24-10.

By this stage O'Meara and Kurt McQuilkin had departed injured. Paul Burke went to outside-half, Bell to the centre.

With Ireland a bedraggled mess up front, the Scots were on the prowl and Ireland proved ready prey. The Scottish forwards were yards quicker to the loose ball, and they dominated every phase of play in the second half.

Ireland lost possession in their own "25" as the prelude to Scotlapd's fourth try, scored by Townsend, and yet again Shepherd converted. That made it 31-10, a record beckoned for the Scots.

Then, in injury time, Ireland lost possession again and Stanger was free on the right and over the line. Shepherd once more kicked the conversion and his side into the record books as Scotland recorded their highest total against any opposition in the history of the championship. Even a damage limitation exercise was beyond the ability of this Ireland team.

Competence sustains authority, and there was sobering evidence yet again that motivation must come from the heart and from pride in a jersey. Sad to say, this was one of the worst Irish performances I have seen. Payment, whatever its source and however big, and crass commercialism will never replace pride in a heritage. If the Irish players have not realised that this season, then reference to the statistics central to their performances are a sobering and revealing indictment of their bequest to their ever-faithful followers.

I walked from Murrayfield thinking of the men long since gone who fashioned Ireland's rugby tradition, men whose spirit knew no limits even when faced by a superior force. I made my journey with a heavy heart.