Ireland, who did the clean sweep back in 1948, lived up to their billing even without the dynamic duo of Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy pulling the strings in midfield to inflict Scotland's seventh consecutive tournament defeat under Matt Williams.

The Scots had hoped to bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat to France in Paris last week.

O'Sullivan was forced to draft in Kevin Maggs and Shane Horgan to his midfield while Horgan's move from the wing saw Girvan Dempsey deputise in the number 14 jersey with Gavin Duffy of Harlequins coming onto the bench.Ireland, who beat Italy last week, took some time to adjust to those changes and Scotland sensed a shock win was on the cards with some encouraging early play.

Scotland looked buoyed after last week's spirited display in the Stade de France and Jason White led by example with a powerful early charge.

The Sale Sharks' back-row star burst through the challenge of Ronan O'Gara and into the Irish 22 but they were unable to take advantage of the situation.

However, Chris Paterson stroked home a comfortable eighth-minute penalty to put Scotland three points ahead.Ireland responded well and O'Gara tried to get his team-mates over the line with a well-judged kick over the top but Paterson saved the day by leaping on the loose ball.

Paterson was again instrumental in the 13th minute as Scotland proved that they did have the flair and pace in attack by scoring their first try of this season's championship.

The former skipper picked up the ball deep in his own half and sprinted over 30 metres before off-loading to Andy Craig.

The Glasgow man quickly found the overlapping Hugo Southwell and he stretched his legs and went into the corner to make amends for his costly late mistake in Paris last week.

Paterson missed the kick but O'Gara made no mistake from 38 yards to reduce the deficit to five points in the 20th minute.

The Irish pack were gradually taking control and from a line-out a few metres from the Scotland line they charged forward with man-of-the-match Malcolm O'Kelly, who became the most capped Irish player in history, touching down.

O'Gara converted to put the improving visitors into a two-point lead.Scotland continued to lose their nerve with Tom Smith and then Sean Lamont guilty of schoolboy mistakes to put their side under more pressure.

O'Gara gave his side a comfortable five-point lead by kicking a 38th-minute penalty after White was penalised for trying to get his hands on the ball.

Geordan Murphy showed Scotland how to use their feet by kicking to the corner and Ireland capitalised with Paul O'Connell, who is being tipped to lead the British and Irish Lions on their summer tour of New Zealand, forcing the ball down over the line while under pressure from Dan Parks and Southwell.

The Scots' hopes of a fightback were crushed as early as the 44th minute when Denis Hickie went over in the corner for his 25th try for his country before O'Gara's boot increased their lead to 20 points.

Scotland gave their coach and supporters some encouragement on the hour when Jon Petrie peeled off the ruck to burst over the line to reduce the deficit to 15.

The fightback was shortlived, however, as Ireland responded with another try when O'Connell passed the ball to John Hayes to go over in the corner.

O'Gara again pulled his kick wide but their advantage was still at an unassailable 20-point lead before Gavin Duffy completed the stroll with a debut try in the dying seconds and a David Humphreys' conversion.

For Scotland coach Williams it is back to the drawing board while Ireland's push for Grand Slam glory gathers momentum going into their next game against world champions England.


Scotland:
Tries: Southwell, Petrie.
Pens: Paterson.

Scotland: Paterson, Danielli, Craig, Southwell, S. Lamont,Parks, Cusiter, T. Smith, Bulloch, Kerr, Grimes, Murray, White,Petrie, Hogg.

Replacements: Blair for Cusiter (71), Douglas for Kerr (71),Hines for Murray (71).
Not Used: Russell, Dunbar, Ross, Hinshelwood.

Ireland:
Tries: O'Kelly, O'Connell, Hickie, Hayes, Duffy.
Cons: O'Gara 2, Humphreys.
Pens: O'Gara 3.

Ireland: Murphy, Dempsey, Horgan, Maggs, Hickie, O'Gara, Stringer, Corrigan, Byrne, Hayes, O'Kelly, O'Connell, S.Easterby, O'Connor, Foley.

Replacements: Duffy for Hickie (75), Humphreys for O'Gara (75),G. Easterby for Stringer (75), Horan for Corrigan (72),Sheahan for Byrne (72), O'Callaghan for O'Kelly (75), Miller for O'Connor (66).

Att: 67,800