Scotland reject accusations of ‘fragility’ ahead of trip to Dublin
LICKING their wounds after a horror show in Rome last weekend, Scotland players gathered on Monday afternoon for a video review session upon their return to Edinburgh. Poring over the footage of one of the most damaging defeats of the Gregor Townsend era, it hardly requires forensic insight to deduce what the main point of focus would have been. What unfolded in the second half at the Stadio Olimpico was thoroughly depressing as Scotland lost all control of a game they really ought to have won. They had a 12-point lead at one stage in the first half, but blew it in spectacular fashion, once again raising questions about the mental fortitude of this team. The Scots have developed a habit of imploding inexplicably at times. Their heads become scrambled and they sink without a trace as their gameplan unravels. But what happened against Italy was undoubtedly a new low — and raised fresh questions about this team showing a mental fragility. But defence coach Steve Tandy has rejected any notion that the team are mentally weak ahead of this weekend’s daunting trip to Dublin. Asked to explain the poor second-half performances and the fact this team seemingly have a propensity to implode, Tandy said: ‘I would never question our mental toughness. ‘Look at the England game — if you lack mental toughness, you’re not going to come back from 10-0 down and win the Calcutta Cup. ‘And that was coming after France, when we feel we’d been absolutely hard done by but came back and produced a performance.’ Going up against an Ireland team who still have ambitions of winning the championship, Scotland will be huge underdogs at the Aviva on Saturday afternoon. The Scots still mathematically have a chance themselves, but they would have to engineer a 77-point swing to overhaul the Irish on points difference, whilst hoping other results go their way. They have never beaten Ireland during the Townsend era, hence why so many will feel the outcome this weekend will be a foregone conclusion. But Tandy feels it would be wrong for the Scots to be written off, adding: ‘Ireland are an unbelievable team. They won the Grand Slam last year and it’s taken a last gasp drop goal for them to actually lose this year. ‘They were outstanding at the World Cup, they gave us a good lesson. ‘We know it’s going to be an absolutely physical encounter and Ireland will be raring to go after the back of their first defeat in a long time, and obviously they’re in and around the championship. ‘We know the task we’re undertaking and we know the focus and mentality we’re going to need on Saturday.’