Ireland have surged 10 points clear of England at the top of the Six Nations table thanks to a 28-8 win over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Gregor Townsend's charges claimed the first points of the afternoon after Huw Jones closed down Keith Earls and forced the Ireland winger to hold onto the ball.
The outcome was a Scotland penalty, which Greig Laidlaw duly sent between the uprights 13 minutes into the game.
However, Ireland would not have to wait long to gain the advantage as an interception on 22 minutes sent Jacob Stockdale galloping over the line before Johnny Sexton added the extras.
Stockdale then added a second try just before the break following good work from Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose, and Sexton's conversion saw Joe Schmidt's side go into the dressing rooms 14-3 up.
The early stages of the second half brought about a flurry of activity as scrum-half Conor Murray bundled over the line on 46 minutes before Sexton added two more points with the boot.
Just five minutes later, Scotland reduced the deficit when Blair Kinghorn emphatically touched down in the corner on his first start, though Laidlaw could not made it a seven-point haul.
The all-important fourth try came on 69 minutes when Ireland secured an easy ball from the lineout before CJ Stander led a huge drive and replacement Jack Cronin crossed over, with Sexton adding the extras.
Unless England also get a bonus point in their encounter against France on Saturday evening, Ireland will be crowned Six Nations champions.
Giuseppe Labellarte
