Ireland strolled to a comfortable enough win against an exceptionally weak Scottish side. It was always going to be a tough ask for the Scots and the loss of White and Barkley from the back row and the presence of Webster in the centre reduced Scotland's chances still further. While Webster may be a reasonably competent wing he is by no stretch of the imagination an international class centre.

Ireland looked nervous in the opening 15 minutes and it wasn't until Heaslip and Wallace combined off the back of a scrum in the 21st minute for Wallace to go over under the posts that Ireland started to relax. Five minutes later with O'Driscoll sending Kearney over with a looping pass it was game over.

With Patterson responding with two penalties Ireland turned round 14 - 6 ahead.

The killer blow was delivered just after kick off with O'Gara chipping to prop Horan on the wing for Horan to scamper over unopposed.

Bernard Jackman struggled manfully to bring some equality to proceedings, but Scotland were unable to capitalize on his poor lineouts and constant penalty infringements. Thankfully he was replaced by Rory on the 44th minute before he could do too much harm.

The whole Ireland team now appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the game, with the exception of Eddie O'Stunted who's head was slowly rotating as he watched Geordan Murphy have one of his best games for Ireland.

Eddie's head spinning went into Exorcist proportions when Tommy Bowe got the first of his brace of trys. It was at this point that Eddie started to realise that there was going to be no easy cop-outs for the Welsh game and he is going to have to tell some of his beloved "Untouchables" that their time has gone. Whether he has the balls to make that decision has yet to be seen but one thing is certain that the performance of the "new boys" to date has done nothing but make a mockery of his RWC07 strategy.

Trimble had another great game and he is really starting to dominate the midfield. This in turn frees up time and space for O'Driscoll and O'Gara giving Ireland more attacking options.

Bowe was the main beneficiary from these attacks and his two tries were thoroughly deserved after a fine display in attack and defence. Bowe is one of the few modern wingers to have maintained his speed when he bulked up and he will be a big loss to Ulster next year.

Rory was again the ultimate professional and he really seems to steady the pack when he comes on. There should surely be no doubt about him starting for the rest of the campaign.

Wales will be a much sterner test than this underpowered Scottish side. It will be interesting to see what side O'Stunted does pick. The forced, personnel and positional, changes have been fairly successful with only Jackman failing to live up to the billing. Will O'Stunted dare to keep the young blood in place or will he revert to type and field an experienced, but stale, side?

The way he unloaded the bench was perhaps a worrying foretaste of things to come with old faithful's Easterby, O'Connell and Horgan all being brought on at an unfashionably early time by O'Stunted. Surely not?? We have already been promised the Dempsey will be playing against Wales before a ball was kicked in the Scotland game!

As an aside has anyone else noted that Ireland are doing a lot less intimidation questioning of the referee with Shags and D'arce off the pitch?