Highlights: Ireland v Scotland | Six Nations

Ireland were below their best but managed to give new head coach Andy Farrell a winning start against Scotland. Johnny Sexton led by example with all 19 Ireland points in head coach Andy Farrell's 19-12 debut win over a wasteful Scotland in their Six Nations opener. It was Sexton who scored the only try of the match in the first half and his boot thereafter maintained an Irish advantage on a frustrating day for Scotland, with four Adam Hastings penalties proving to be in vain. Gregor Townsend's men came flying out of the blocks and Hastings – replacing Finn Russell after he was punished for a breach of team discipline - kicked the first points with five minutes played, albeit after a lengthy stoppage as home debutant Caelan Doris had to make an early exit with a head injury. But Ireland rallied in impressive fashion and led through Sexton's try, the new skipper stepping through a gaping hole in the visitors' defence to go over after 10 minutes. A second Hastings penalty checked Ireland's momentum, but continued spells of Scotland pressure were not rewarded with a try, Farrell's side standing firm time and again in front of the posts. Sexton's pinpoint penalty restored some daylight on the scoreboard, although a further missed effort moments later gave Scotland a lift heading into the break. Optimism in the away ranks soon mellowed as the continued concession of penalties allowed Sexton to swiftly add another three points from 15 metres. And Scotland passed up a huge opportunity with just under half an hour remaining, skipper Hogg mishandling in the corner unchallenged when a try looked inevitable. The play was instead pulled back for a penalty, which Hastings dispatched, and the Scotland number 10 then responded to Sexton's third successful penalty with his fourth to keep his team in contention. But an inability to cross the try line to breach a stoic defence, and Ireland's sole try was enough as Sexton again kicked well when Sam Johnson foolishly barged Andrew Conway off the ball, before a dramatic late stand sealed a scrappy victory.