The fear five weeks ago was that Ireland would always have Paris. The defeat of England in Twickenham three weeks ago had looked like it would be the high watermark of the spring. This was better because Scotland, unlike a crumbling England, showed up and trailed by just five points with the last quarter to play. Time and again they had been beaten before Ireland allowed them to land a first punch. Dan Sheehan splintered off a lineout maul to touch down, and then Ireland landed another beauty of a blow.
