THERE WAS a gulf between these sides every bit as wide as the scoreline suggests - and the Scottish boys are no mean outfit. It was simply that this Irish side is bristling with talents which have been welded to form a fine team.

Look out for the names of Cormac Dowling, Andy Dunne and Donncha O'Callaghan in particular, although there are no weaknesses in this side.

Dowling, using his flaring pace, intruded regularly from fullback to wreak havoc in the Scottish midfield. Dunne demonstrated maturity well beyond his years as he orchestrated things from out-half. He had the advantage of operating behind a well-drilled pack in which O'Callaghan made some fine two-handed line-out takes and was both aggressive and creative in loose play.

Flanker Andrew Hughes opened the scoring, bursting clear in his own half and exchanging passes with Brian O'Driscoll before going over. Two further first-half tries came from O'Callaghan and Pat Hanlon, both driving over from short range.

Four tries in a nine-minute spell created a scoreline which reflected the power and skill of the Irish side. O'Driscoll and Dowling ran clear from deep for two fine tries and Hughes and Garret Lloyd rounded off dynamic work by their pack colleagues with two virtually unstoppable touch downs.

While O'Driscoll, with his try, five conversions and a penalty bagged a personable haul of 18 points, this was a true team performance.