Ireland vs Scotland LIVE: Result and latest reaction from Autumn Nations Cup

Follow the latest updates from the third-place play-off at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland celebrate after Keith Earls score his second try of the match against Scotland (PA)

Follow the latest updates as Ireland take on Scotland in the battle to claim third in the Autumn Nations Cup as Finals Weekend continues.

After Georgia and Fiji raised the curtain on today’s action, it’s the turn of the two group runners-up to take centre stage in the third-place play-off. It’s of course not the game that either wanted to be in, with Ireland coming unstuck against England earlier in the tournament while Scotland lost their decider to the French, but both sides have signalled their intent to end the year on a high with the Six Nations just around the corner.

Ireland will be led by returning captain Johnny Sexton who has recovered from a hamstring strain suffered in the opening game against Wales, while Scotland turn to debutant fly-half Jaco van der Welt in the hope of finding a replacement for injured duo Finn Russell and Adam Hastings. Follow the live updates below.

Ireland vs Scotland key points

• Ireland 31-16 Scotland
• Earls scores opening try of the match
• Scotland reduced to 14 men after Duncan Taylor sin-binned
• Healy adds second early in the second half
• Earls adds his second to assert commanding lead
• Scotland respond through Van der Merwe’s solo effort

[5 December 2020 12:21 · Jack de Menezes]

17 mins: Georgia 3-12 Fiji

Newcastle hooker Matavesi can’t quite get the lineout right this time and it allows Georgia to pinch possession and clear the danger, with scrum-half Todua finding touch outside the 22.

[5 December 2020 12:20 · Jack de Menezes]

16 mins: Georgia 3-12 Fiji

Fiji are handed a penalty as Mamukashvili is penalised for a tackle off the ball, and the Fijians again go to the corner and want a third try here.

[5 December 2020 12:16 · Jack de Menezes]

11 mins: Georgia 3-12 Fiji

Georgia get a chance to get on the board as their first meaningful attack as Botia is penalised for going off his feet in trying to turn the ball over at the breakdown, and fly-half Abzhandadze duly takes the shot at goal from in front of the posts. However, there’s an early setback for the East Europeans as tighthead prop Gigashvili is forced off with injury, with Giorgi Melikidze on in his place.

[5 December 2020 12:13 · Jack de Menezes]

8 mins: Georgia 0-12 Fiji

This is an emphatic start from the Fijians! Georgia are somewhat harshly punished for a dominant scrum, but Fiji waste no time with the penalty and go quickly. They win another penalty and kick to the corner, and despite the wealth of power backs at their disposal, it’s the forwards who do the damage as flanker Johnny Dyer drives over from close range to double the lead! This time Volavola is on target and lands the conversion.

[5 December 2020 12:10 · Jack de Menezes]

7 mins: Georgia 0-10 Fiji

TRY FOR FIJI!

[5 December 2020 12:06 · Jack de Menezes]

2 mins: Georgia 0-5 Fiji

What a start from Fiji! The kick-off is knocked on immediately and gives Fiji the perfect platform to attack from. They bring the wings straight into play, with Tuisova taking the first carry off the scrum and then a loose pass across the line finding the former captain Nemani Nadolo, who is out of international retirement for this tournament and scores in the corner with his very first touch! He brushes off full-back Matiashvili and has the pace to beat the covering defence to score. Volavola misses the conversion, but Fiji are up and running in the Autumn Nations Cup!

[5 December 2020 12:03 · Jack de Menezes]

2 mins: Georgia 0-5 Fiji

TRY FOR FIJI!

[5 December 2020 12:02 · Jack de Menezes]

1 mins: Georgia 0-0 Fiji

KICK-OFF! Fiji get the match under way!

[5 December 2020 12:00 · Jack de Menezes]

Georgia vs Fiji

For the first time this autumn, we get to witness the Cibi as Fiji lay down the challenge to Georgia with their version of the Haka, led by Lavani Botia. Here we go!

[5 December 2020 11:56 · Jack de Menezes]

Georgia vs Fiji

Back to matters at Murrayfield, and the two sides run out under the gloomy and rain-filled skies of Edinburgh, which could have a bit of an impact on how the match plays out given Fiji’s preference for eye-catching and expansive rugby.

This could well play into the hands of Georgia, who will look to try and assert their set-piece dominance and build a platform around their forwards to pressure the Fijians.

Time for the anthems.