Parks proves the difference

Dan Parks inspired Scotland to a famous 23-20 win to scupper Ireland's Triple Crown bid in their final game at Croke Park.

Andy Robinson's side went into the game as massive underdogs after picking up just one point from their opening four games in the RBS Six Nations Championship .

But the fly-half kicked five penalties and one drop-goal to give the visitors their first win in Dublin since 1998 and ensure that they avoided the wooden spoon.

Both teams went into the clash with the same starting line-ups from their previous games, with Declan Kidney's side looking to end their three-year stay at the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association in style.

But the visitors took the lead in the sixth minute against the run of play via the boot of Parks after Paul O'Connell was penalised for failing to let go after tackling Rory Best in front of the posts.

The Irish responded, dominating play before Jonny Sexton produced a slick back-line run-around move before releasing captain Brian O'Driscoll to touch down in the 11th minute for his first try of the tournament - Sexton adding the extras.

Hit back

Robinson's side hit back almost immediately, though, with centre Graeme Morrison producing a fine break down the left flank before passing inside for Johnnie Beattie.

He held off three would-be tacklers before touching down in the corner, although Parks failed with his conversion from a tight angle to leave the score at 8-7 to the visitors.

Play then ebbed and flowed, with neither team able to assert themselves and mistakes on both sides.

The 83,000 crowd had to wait until the 30th minute for the next points-scoring opportunity, but Sexton just failed with his long-range penalty after Alistair Kellock killed the ball.

At the other end, Scotland won a penalty when Donncha O'Callaghan was penalised for not rolling away and Parks duly despatched a straight forward kick from in front of the posts.

It then got even better for Robinson's side, with Parks kicking a fine 35-metre drop-goal following a ruck to leave the visitors seven points up going into the interval.

The home side missed an opportunity to reduce the arrears almost immediately after the break with Sexton missing an angled penalty after Max Evans strayed offside.

Parks ensured the miss was even more costly with a long-distance effort of his own on 48 minutes, but Sexton finally got his kicking boots on as he landed his only penalty from the 22 after a rolling maul was collapsed.

Confusion

There was some confusion before the kick whether Ronan O'Gara would replace him but Sexton waved the Munsterman away before landing the points.

That was the Leinster player's last contribution, though, with O'Gara coming on, while the visitors made a double substitution, with Alan MacDonald and Mike Blair replacing Kelly Brown and Chris Cusiter respectively.

Parks suffered a rare blemish on the day as he failed with a kick to restore the 10-point advantage at the other end and, soon after, Ireland were level.

Tommy Bowe stretched over after shrugging of two tackles following a Gordon D'Arcy pass, with O'Gara adding the extras from a tight angle.

But Parks was again on target to put the visitors ahead with less than seven minutes remaining after Jamie Heaslip was caught on the wrong side at a ruck.

But Ewan Murray was then penalised for collapsing a scrum and O'Hara duly obliged from the resulting penalty to draw the Irish level once more.

The killer blow came with just a minute remaining after Parks put a fine cross field kick into the left corner and Rob Kearney failed to release on the ground under pressure.

From out wide on the left touchline, Parks put a superb kick right between the posts to seal the win for the visitors - ending Ireland's Triple Crown bid and handing France the Six Nations title for this season.