DUBLIN — Ireland overcame the late withdrawal of captain Paul O'Connell to beat Scotland 28-6 in their Six Nations opener at Lansdowne Road Sunday. O'Connell picked up a chest infection Saturday night, but the hugely influential lock wasn't missed for once as his replacement, Dan Tuohy, helped mince up the Scotland lineout in the first half and stand-in skipper Jamie Heaslip led by example with a try and high workrate. Ireland bridged halftime with tries by winger Andrew Trimble and Heaslip, and Jonathan Sexton added 13 points to overtake Michael Kiernan and become his country's third highest point-scorer in tests. Fullback Rob Kearney added a late try when the result was already in Ireland's grasp. Without O'Connell, Sean O'Brien and Gordon D'Arcy, three big contributors in the heart-breaking loss to New Zealand in the last outing in November, there was enough doubt about Ireland's ability and mindset to achieve another good start in the last Six Nations for Brian O'Driscoll. But the doubts proved unnecessary, as Ireland had enough class and nous for a Scotland still lacking a killer touch, and won its tournament opener for the 10th time in the last 11 years. Scotland began the match by doing what it does best, holding the ball. The Scots worked 11 phases into the Ireland 22 until they were harshly penalized for holding too long. Then Greig Laidlaw's long-range penalty hit the left upright. Sexton and Laidlaw swapped penalties, and Ireland ended up leading 6-3 into the second quarter. But not until the last 10 minutes did the heart-rate rise. No. 8 David Denton came closest to a Scotland try when he burst blindside off a ruck 10 meters out and was trying to reach out to the line when he was bowled into touch by scrumhalf Conor Murray and flanker Peter O'Mahony. As Ireland loosened Scotland's pressure — winning four Scottish throw-ins helped — Scots and Lions winger Sean Maitland landed awkwardly on his right ankle from jumping for an up and under and limped off. Sexton put the pressure back on Scotland by carving past tackles in midfield, and gave Heaslip a shot in the left corner, but the No. 8 stepped over the sideline just before he touched down. Ireland failed to score from the resulting five-meter lineout, but a penalty allowed them to try another attacking lineout with a minute to go. Scotland's defense looked like holding on, but Ireland's quick rucks helped the hosts find Scotland short on the right wing, where Kearney gave Trimble the overlap to score for an 11-3 halftime lead. Soon after the restart, Laidlaw cut the deficit to five, but Ireland put the game away in the 47th when Tuohy's lineout take was mauled by Ireland and Heaslip scored too easily. Sexton converted for 18-6 and added a third penalty before the hour. Ireland controlled possession throughout the half, which inevitably ended with a third try to Kearney, who slipped off replacement Alasdair Dickinson and dragged flanker Ryan Wilson to the tryline nine minutes from time. Substitutes Dimitri Szarzewski and Gael Fickou combined to score a late converted try for France to secure a dramatic 26-24 win against England in their Six Nations opener Saturday. With two minutes remaining, the hooker Szarzewski made a brilliant break down the left and fed Fickou, and the center cut inside his marker before running round behind the posts. The win will boost a France team looking to make amends for the humiliation of last year's wooden spoon, and that should be averted with Italy next up at home. — AP
