Andrew Henderson ran-in a hat-trick of tries as Scotland survived a second-half fightback to overpower Ireland 31-21 in Saturday's World Cup tune-up at Murrayfield.

Aallister Hogg, Euan Murray and Henderson (pictured) touched down as the Scots appeared to be coasting to the morale-boosting victory they sought with the tournament in France fast approaching.

With Ireland's pack crumbling in the tight and at set pieces - their scrum was particularly woeful - Frank Hadden's side were in full control until the visitors burst into life early in the second half.

Isaac Boss started the revival, Andrew Trimble added a second try and the boot of Paddy Wallace made further inroads into the deficit before man of the match Henderson killed off the game with the decisive try seven minutes from time.

Hadden had selected a near full-strength side in the hope of building winning momentum heading into the World Cup and was rewarded with an enthusiastic display led by the pack.

The experiment of installing Chris Paterson at fly-half was undermined by the wet conditions but the Gloucester back looked at ease and warrants perseverance in the position.

For Ireland boss Eddie O'Sullivan the match was a last chance to see a handful of players in action before finalising his 30-man World Cup squad, which will be unveiled tomorrow morning.

But the soul searching will probably continue long into the night as today's lacklustre display will have provided few extra clues on which of the tight calls deserve a ticket to France.

Munster winger Brian Carney, who converted from rugby league less than six months ago, probably just edged Ulster rival Tommy Bowe in the shoot-out for the last available back three spot.

Carney's greater appetite for work may count in his favour but in the back row, where the competition for places is at its fiercest, O'Sullivan will be none the wiser.

Allegations of choking on Ronan O'Gara made by O'Sullivan marred the same fixture in last season's RBS 6 Nations, but there was no lingering bad blood in today's encounter.

Billed as World Cup warm-up game, both sides looked rusty but Ireland were most off the pace as their defence cracked with just over two minutes on the clock.

Two conceded penalties saw the Irish pegged back with Hogg and Rob Dewey making ground before the Edinburgh openside finished the move after his pack had taken up position on the tryline.

Carney was denied a try when Murphy's pass flew behind him, but the Leicester full-back's inaccuracy owed much to a crunching tackle from opposite number Rory Lamont.

A Wallace penalty gave Ireland some reward but the Scots forwards were making inroads through the middle before Murphy came to the rescue when Paterson probed with a fine crossfield kick.

Successive retreating scrums heaped further on the Irish forwards who would have lost the ball both times had Boss not fed straight into the second row.

The video referee confirmed Scotland's second try when Henderson rode a tackle by Brian O'Driscoll, hitting the post before turning to place the ball on the line.

Murphy slotted a penalty - Wallace was receiving treatment following a heavy collision - and then Gavin Duffy limped off, replaced by Andrew Trimble with O'Driscoll moving to inside centre.

Ireland's frailty at close range was exposed again in the 37th minute when Murray drove over from a couple of yards, completing the good work of Rory Lamont who had almost crossed in the right corner seconds earlier.

Paterson missed his first conversion, denied by an upright, and a darting run by scrum-half Mike Blair seized the initiative for Scotland early in the second half.

With the visiting pack hurtling backwards with worrying frequency, the Scots rampaged forward and forced a gap which was clinically exploited - although Henderson had to juggle the ball before touching down.

A slick counter-attack saw Ireland respond almost immediately with Bowe involved before Boss wriggled over from close range and Wallace converted.

Murphy, who was ruled out of the last World Cup after breaking a leg in the same warm-up fixture at Murrayfield, collected another high ball and then produced a superb touchfinder to keep his side on the front foot.

Space was created out wide on the left and Murphy delivered the scoring pass to Trimble before Wallace slotted a penalty to slash Scotland's lead to just three points.

A raft of changes were made to both sides and the initiative swung in the Scots' favour with Henderson breaking a tackle from Wallace to cross for the telling score.

SportingLife / Eurosport