Ireland closing in on Six Nations title

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The visitors were second best in an attritional first half at Murrayfield but their ferocious forward power was simply too much for their opponents after the break, with Jamie Heaslip's try proving decisive.

Ronan O'Gara kicked 17 points - in the process becoming the Five and Six Nations' all-time leading scorer - while Chris Paterson booted five penalties for Scotland, who have now lost eight straight Six Nations games to Ireland.

Ireland's supremacy after the interval will have sent a shudder through Wales as the RBS 6 Nations rivals prepare to meet in a likely title decider at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday.

Ireland may possess several gamebreakers behind the scrum, but it was the forwards who broke Scotland's resistance with an attritional display that had Munster's stamp all over it.

The only complaint was the scoreboard failed to mirror their superiority, although this was no reflection on Ronan O'Gara who enjoyed his best match of the tournament.

In the process he became the highest points scorer in championship's history, eclipsing the 479 mark established by Jonny Wilkinson with four penalties, one conversion and a drop goal.

The encounter was rarely easy on the eye with the scarcity of try-scoring opportunities making the contribution of the kickers all the more important.

The Scots were being run ragged with winger Tommy Bowe and substitute Heaslip punching big holes in their defence, which eventually cracked in the 51st minute.

A huge gap opened up for Stringer at the base of a line-out and the alert Munster veteran needed no second invitation. Racing free on the diagonal, he turned Paterson inside out before picking out Heaslip on his shoulder and the Leinster back row stormed over.