Ireland at Murrayfield

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 Sean Lamont of Scotland and Luke Fitzgerald of Ireland collide in mid air trying to claim a high ball during the RBS Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

(February 23, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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Planet Rugby Match Report:

Scotland kept their Six Nations title hopes alive thanks to a hard fought 12-8 victory over Ireland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

It's the first time since 2001 that the Scots have won back-to-back Six Nations matches.

After trailing 8-0 early in the second half, the hosts put 12 unanswered points past their Celtic rivals thanks to the boot of scrum-half Greig Laidlaw that helped his team to an unlikely win and that effectively ends Ireland's Six Nations challenge.

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 Wing Craig Gilroy of Ireland barges over to score the opening try during the RBS Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

(February 23, 2013 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

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Man of the match: Scotland lock Jim Hamilton won the official gong, and his hard work at the set-piece was a real standout for the hosts. But we've opted for hero of the day Greig Laidlaw, who's four perfect kicks at goal handed Scotland victory.

Moment of the match: There weren't many. But those last few minutes that so nearly ended in heartbreak for the hosts was a real nail-biter.

Villain of the match: Ryan Grant's sin-binning didn't prove as costly as Paddy Jackson's three missed kicks at goal which ultimately cost his side dearly.

full match report here:

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Craig Gilroy of Ireland is tackled by Tim Visser and Johnnie Beattie of Scotland during the RBS Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

(February 23, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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 Craig Gilroy of Ireland is tackled by Tim Visser and Johnnie Beattie of Scotland during the RBS Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

(February 23, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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RBS 6 Nations Match Report:

Greig Laidlaw kicked all the points as Scotland staged a fine comeback to sink Ireland 12-8 and chalk up back-to-back RBS 6 Nations victories for the first time since 2001.

Trailing 8-0 just after the break and having been outclassed in the first 50 minutes, Scotland romped back and Laidlaw's clinical kicking edged out Ireland, who slipped to a second straight Championship loss.

In complete contrast to Laidlaw, Ireland fly-half Paddy Jackson enjoyed a difficult debut, missing three kicks at goal before he was replaced.

For Scotland, having defeated Italy in the previous match, their hopes of clinching the RBS 6 Nations title remain very much alive after a first Championship victory over Ireland at Murrayfield in 12 years.

Despite Jackson's inaccuracy from the tee, Ireland were very much in the ascendancy in the first half but for all their knocking on the Scotland door, they could only take a three-point lead in with them at the interval.

full match report here:

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 Sean O'Brien of Ireland breaks through the tackle from Jim Hamilton of Scotland during the RBS Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

(February 23, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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Sean O'Brien of Ireland breaks through the tackle from Jim Hamilton of Scotland during the RBS Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

(February 23, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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next test:

Scotland v Wales

Murrayfield - Edinburgh

9th March

Scotland v Wales Preview:

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Ireland v France

Aviva Stadium - Dublin

9th March

Ireland v France Preview:

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SIX NATIONS 2013

		Pl	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/-	Pts
1	England	3	3	0	0	73	37	36	6
2	Wales	3	2	0	1	64	45	19	4
3	Scotland	3	2	0	1	64	56	8	4
4	Ireland	3	1	0	2	44	46	-2	2
5	Italy	3	1	0	2	42	78	-36	2
6	France	3	0	0	3	37	62	-25	0

England wins in Dublin

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England keep Grand Slam dream alive with win in Dublin

 Sean O'Brien of Ireland is tackled by Tom Youngs and Chris Robshaw of England during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.

(February 9, 2013 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

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RBS 6 Nations has a match report:

England withstood a second-half Irish onslaught to claim their first victory in Dublin in the RBS 6 Nations for a decade, eventually running out 12-6 winners in the tightest of contests.

Owen Farrell kicked four penalties to Ronan O'Gara's two as England edged the battle of the two remaining Grand Slam contenders in freezing conditions.

Leading 6-0 at the interval, England wavered in the first 20 minutes of the second period and when James Haskell was sent to the sin bin at 6-6 the smart money was on Ireland to complete an impressive comeback.

But the visitors gathered themselves and played the rest of the game in the Ireland half to ensure they returned home with their RBS 6 Nations dream alive.

Match Report:

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 England player Ben Youngs clears the ball during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.

(February 9, 2013 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

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 Sean O'Brien of Ireland is tackled by Chris Robshaw and Dan Cole of England during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.

(February 9, 2013 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

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Dublin triumph for England

Planet Rugby has a match report:

England picked up an impressive 12-6 victory over Six Nations rivals Ireland on Sunday in an absorbing 80 minutes at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Stuart Lancaster's outfit put in another mature effort that leaves them as the last remaining unbeaten side in the 2013 Championship.

No tries were scored in the spectacle but the English displayed an edge that denied Ireland, who had crossed for three tries against Wales, any real opportunity to get over the whitewash.

Owen Farrell kicked all of England's points, but it was their intelligence with and without the ball that ultimately won the game as Ireland struggled to get into the match, due in part to losing Simon Zebo and Jonathan Sexton to early injuries.

Man of the match: While the official award went to captain Chris Robshaw, who was superb as a leader, we believe that Ben Youngs had a slightly better shift in Dublin. He organised his pack well while his kicking for position was outstanding in difficult conditions. Rarely does Danny Care not make it onto the field but today Youngs was not to be disturbed.

Moment of the match: After Ronan O'Gara had kicked three points following England's James Haskell kicking the ball out from a ruck, the visitors showed real character to record their own points while the flank was in the sin-bin. In such spells wins are earned.

Villain of the match: There were two occasions when Cian Healy lost his cool and it is now expected that the Irish loosehead prop will face a trip to a hearing. The first indiscretion saw him stamp on Dan Cole's ankle before he led with the elbow in a ruck. Not good at all.

Match Report:

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Mike Ross of Ireland and Tom Wood of England grapple during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.

(February 9, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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Ronan O'Gara of Ireland is wrapped up by Joe Marler of England during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.

(February 9, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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next test:

England v France

Twickenham - London

Match Preview: England - France

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Scotland v Ireland

MURRAYFIELD - Edinburgh

Match Preview: Scotland - Ireland

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SIX NATIONS 2013

		Pl	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/-	Pts
1	England	2	2	0	0	50	24	26	4
2	Scotland	2	1	0	1	52	48	4	2
3	Wales	2	1	0	1	38	36	2	2
3	Ireland	2	1	0	1	36	34	2	2
5	Italy	2	1	0	1	33	52	-19	2
6	France	2	0	0	2	24	39	-15	0

Stadio Olimpico - Italy 23 - France 18

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 Yoann Huget of France is tackled by Leonardo Ghiraldini during the RBS Six Nations match between Italy and France at Stadio Olimpico on February 3, 2013 in Rome, Italy.

(February 2, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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official RBS 6 nations has a match report:

Orquera leads Italy to stunning success in Rome

France came into the game on the back of three wins in the autumn internationals, including an impressive dismantling of Australia in Paris.

However the Italians had shown a lot of promise as well, going toe-to-toe with the All Blacks for an hour and coming within two points of the Wallabies and lived up to coach Jacques Brunel's attacking ambitions.

Despite trailing at half-time, they produced a fantastic second-half comeback as Les Bleus faded. And when Martin Castrogiovanni went over with 20 minutes to go, and Orquera put Italy back in front, it looked like the spirit had gone out of the French.

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/21998.php

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 Martin Castrogiovanni of Itay scores his team's second try during the RBS Six Nations match between Italy and France at Stadio Olimpico on February 3, 2013 in Rome, Italy.

(February 2, 2013 - Source: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Europe)

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yahoo/eurosport has a match report:

Six Nations - Italy stun France in Roman classic

Italy outfought and outplayed France to claim a magnificent 23-18 victory in their Six Nations clash at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

The home side went ahead early on as Sergio Parisse scored a try inside five minutes and, though France got back in front, Martin Castrogiovanni finished off a magnificent team effort by Italy with 20 minutes left, a try which proved to be the decisive score.

France pushed hard to get back on terms in the final 10 minutes, but they simply had nobody who was able to cut open the superb Italian defence - and for the second time in three years, France came away from the Eternal City with a loss that devastates their Six Nations hopes.

Read the whole report here:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/six-nations-italy-stun-france-roman-classic-165746854.html

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 Thierry Dusatoir of France is tackled during the RBS Six Nations match between Italy and France at Stadio Olimpico on February 3, 2013 in Rome, Italy.

(February 2, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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Planet Rugby has a match report:

Man of the match: Italy skipper Sergio Parisse once again led from the front, but fly-halfLuciano Orquera ran the show majestically - setting up two tries, kicking a drop-goal, two conversions and a penalty for a personal haul of 13 points.

Moment of the match: Take your pick! All four tries were out of the top drawer, but the final minute of the match left everyone watching this tense spectacle on the edge of their seats.

Villain of the match: Replacement hooker Davide Giazzon may have been given his marching orders, but luckily for him, it didn't prove costly.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_8468309,00.html

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Maxime Mermoz of France is tackled during the RBS Six Nations match between Italy and France at Stadio Olimpico on February 3, 2013 in Rome, Italy.

(February 2, 2013 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

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next test:

Scotland v Italy

Murrayfield Stadium - Edinburgh
next test match overview

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France v Wales

Stade de France - Paris
next test match overview

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SIX NATIONS 2013

		Pl	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/-	Pts
1	England	1	1	0	0	38	18	20	2
2	Ireland	1	1	0	0	30	22	8	2
3	Italy	1	1	0	0	23	18	5	2
4	France	1	0	0	1	18	23	-5	0
5	Wales	1	0	0	1	22	30	-8	0
6	Scotland	1	0	0	1	18	38	-20	0

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