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Edinburgh - Paul O'Connell played a captain's innings for Ireland in what was likely to be his Six Nations swansong, the veteran lock's first try in the championship for ten years setting his team on their way to a 40-10 victory that put them ahead of Wales in the dramatic last day title race.
The outcome of the championship still depended on the result of England's later kick-off against France at Twickenham (the home side needed to win by 26 points) but Ireland did their best to hold on to their crown, flanker Sean O'Brien bagging a brace of tries and former New Zealand under-21 centre Jared Payne scoring his first try for his adopted country.
Outside half Jonny Sexton weighed in with 18 points from the boot, giving Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt a convincing victory over his former coaching partner Vern Cotter, who presided over a wooden spoon and a whitewash in his first season in charge of the win-less Scots.
