DUBLIN, Ireland -- Ireland overcame the late withdrawal of captain Paul OConnell to beat Scotland 28-6 in their Six Nations opener at Lansdowne Road on Sunday. Taylor Decker Jersey Retro . OConnell picked up a chest infection on Saturday night, but the hugely influential lock wasnt missed for once as his replacement, Dan Tuohy, helped mince up the Scotland lineout in the first half and stand-in skipper Jamie Heaslip led by example with a try and high workrate. Ireland bridged halftime with tries by winger Andrew Trimble and Heaslip, and Jonathan Sexton added 13 points to overtake Michael Kiernan and become his countrys third highest point-scorer in tests. Fullback Rob Kearney, marking his 50th cap, added a late try when the result was already in Irelands grasp. Without OConnell, Sean OBrien and Gordon DArcy, three big contributors in the heart-breaking loss to New Zealand in the last outing in November, there was enough doubt about Irelands ability and mindset to achieve another good start in the last Six Nations for Brian ODriscoll. But the doubts proved unnecessary, as Ireland had enough class and nous for a Scotland still lacking a killer touch, and won its tournament opener for the 10th time in the last 11 years. Even so, Heaslip said coach Joe Schmidt tore into them after the game, saying they needed "huge improvements." The trouble with Ireland is finishing what it starts, unlike its next opponent, Wales, a slow Six Nations starter but fast finisher. The defending champion comes to Dublin next Saturday. "Massive, massive challenge coming," Kearney said. "We have to recover really well now. Weve only got six days, theyve had an extra day. Theyre going for three championships in a row, so were under no illusions." Heaslip and Schmidt said they were shocked to discover OConnell became ill overnight, hardly slept, and saw a doctor at 4:30 a.m. Schmidt said he expected OConnell, plus DArcy, to be available for the Wales game. "Its a relief to me that weve got through the game and got a win on the board," he said. Scotland coach Scott Johnson rued his sides naivety. "We may have to go to some dark places and bring some torches," Johnson said. "Theres a naivety there that well overcome by having some time in the saddle. They dont understand they are doing the hard bits quite easily, but its the finishing off." Scotland began the match by doing what it does best, holding the ball. The Scots worked 11 phases into the Ireland 22 until they were harshly penalized for holding too long. Then Greig Laidlaws long-range penalty hit the left upright. Sexton and Laidlaw swapped penalties, and Ireland ended up leading 6-3 into the second quarter. Not until the last 10 minutes did the heart-rate rise. No. 8 David Denton came closest to a Scotland try when he burst blindside off a ruck 10 metres out and was trying to reach out to the line when he was bowled into touch by scrumhalf Conor Murray and flanker Peter OMahony. As Ireland loosened Scotlands pressure -- winning four Scottish throw-ins helped -- Scots and Lions winger Sean Maitland landed awkwardly on his right ankle from jumping for an up and under and limped off with concussion. Sexton put the pressure back on Scotland by carving past tackles in midfield, and gave Heaslip a shot in the left corner, but the No. 8 stepped over the sideline just before he touched down. Ireland failed twice from five-meter lineouts with seconds to go and Scotlands defence looked like holding, but quick rucks helped Ireland find Scotland short on the right wing, where Kearney gave Trimble the overlap to score for an 11-3 halftime lead. "That gave us a little bit of breathing space," Kearney said. Soon after the restart, Laidlaw cut the deficit to five, but Ireland put the game away in the 47th when Tuohys lineout take was mauled by Ireland and Heaslip scored too easily. Sexton converted for 18-6 and added a third penalty before the hour. Ireland controlled possession throughout the half, and inevitably notched a third try to Kearney, who exploited a tiring defence when he slipped off replacement Alasdair Dickinson and dragged flanker Ryan Wilson to the tryline nine minutes from time. Scotland hosts England next Saturday. Buzz Sawyer Jersey Retro . The third baseman whipped the ball across the diamond to second baseman Aaron Hill. He quickly tossed it to shortstop Chris Owings, who flipped over his shoulder to left fielder Cody Ross. Buy Cheap Jerseys . That little deal worked out in a big way for the Mavericks. Nowitzki had 21 points Tuesday night to pass Oscar Robertson for 10th on the NBAs career scoring list, leading the Mavs to a 95-83 victory over the Utah Jazz. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/matt-szymanski-jersey-retro/ . Anything less than gold for either nation is considered a disappointment. Yet for Switzerland, advancing to the semifinal might be a victory in itself. NEW YORK -- Throughout an up-and-down month, the Los Angeles Angels have been pretty consistent in one area: hitting home runs. Albert Pujols had one of Los Angeles four long balls, C.J. Wilson kept New York in check again and the Angels roughed up the road weary Yankees 13-1 Friday night. "The offensive part of our club is doing what it needs to do," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hopefully well start to match it on the mound, particularly in the bullpen." Pujols hit homer No. 501 and Ian Stewart had a two-run shot off Hiroki Kuroda (2-2) for the majors top slugging squad. Erick Aybar connected for a three-run drive and Collin Cowgill went deep against Bruce Billings, one of the pitchers called up when Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games after being caught with pine tar on his neck Wednesday night. Even with Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun on the disabled list, the Angels set a club record for March and April with 35 home runs, and Pujols has a majors-leading nine. But Los Angeles, which wasted a ninth-inning lead Wednesday in a 5-4 loss, is just 11-11 and has not been above .500 yet this season. "It was a fun game for us after the off day and after the way the last game went," Wilson said. "Were hitting balls all over the place." Wilson (3-2) played catch on a softball field in Central Park wearing his red glove, unnoticed by any New Yorkers. It was hard not to notice his dominant performance in a difficult wind Friday. He gave up a run and four hits in six innings, the seventh time in eight starts hes held New York to two or fewer earned runs. Hank Conger had a pair of RBI doubles and a run-scoring single, Aybar reached base all five times -- once when Carlos Beltran dropped his flyball to right field -- and scored four runs. Howie Kendrick had three of the Angels 16 hits and scored three runs in a game that ended in front of a near-empty stadium. The Yankees returned home at 3 a.m. Friday from an eventful 4-3 road trip in which they lost starters Ivan Nova to a season-ending elbow injury and Pineda for two starts. They came out flat against the only AL team with a winning record against them since 2000. The Angels improved to 66-59 against New York since tthe turn of the century, but have won just 5 of the last 12. Les Dodson Jersey Retro. In the lineup because of his success against Kuroda and third baseman David Freeses struggles, Stewart singled in the second and hit a two-run shot in the third. He went 2 for 3 against the Yankees starter and is 8 for 16 against the righty. On a chilly night, New York managed just two hits off Wilson until the sixth, when Alfonso Soriano had a sacrifice fly after Derek Jeter singled for his 3,336th hit and Beltran doubled. "Hes got pretty good stuff," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Hes got good stuff and commands the baseball with a lot of movement." The Angels sprayed hits through the Yankees varied shifts, scoring three in the second. Conger doubled in a run with a liner that hit the right field wall with a loud thud, Cowgill drove in another with a sacrifice bunt to first base and J.B. Shuck had an RBI groundout. Stewart connected in the third with two outs. After his only 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, Kuroda gave up a long homer to Pujols to start the fifth. An out after Kendrick doubled, Aybar sent a fly to deep right that hit off Beltrans glove for an error, chasing Kuroda. "Im feeling good," Pujols said. "It feels good to feel healthy." Billings relieved and gave up an RBI double to Conger for an 8-0 lead. Aybar and Cowgill hit long balls off Billings in the seventh. Kuroda had his worst outing of the season, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs. "The sinker wasnt good, as well as my slider and I got behind in the count and got hit," Kuroda said through a translator. Scioscia said before the game Ernesto Frieri would be removed the closer role while he works on spotting his pitches. The right-hander worked a 1-2-3 eighth, when the score was 12-1. "Velocity is there," Frieri said. "I just need to make my pitches." NOTES: Girardi said David Phelps would start in Pinedas place on Wednesday. ... Yankees backup SS Brendan Ryan (back) is scheduled to play in a rehab game for Class-A Tampa on Sunday. ... Pujols nine homers in April ties an Angels record set by Brian Downing in 1986. ... Mike Trout went 0 for 4, snapping a 13-game hitting streak against the Yankees. ' ' '