BATTLE OF THE COACHES
TACTICS
JOE SCHMIDT joked about recognising some of his set-piece moves in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland playbook. The Scot rang Schmidt early in his coaching career for advice, and he has shown himself to be a lively innovator since. The Kiwi still has an idea or two left, though, as the move that put Jacob Stockdale over proved. Ireland’s reluctance to kick, even under severe defensive pressure, was an odd feature of the game.
IMPACT
SCOTTISH handling errors are an unavoidable part of any analysis. Their sloppiness in the second half ruined any chance they had of reapplying the pressure they had Ireland under in the final 20 minutes of the first half.
Ireland, meanwhile, played a conservative, largely narrow game after the break but it worked. They needed a win of any stripe, and they got it. They occasionally played like a team low on confidence, but this was the way to restore it.
OUTLOOK
THIS victory has a value that goes way beyond the Six Nations, and Schmidt will understand that. So too will Townsend: when the two meet in what will be the pivotal match in Pool A at the World Cup on September 22, Ireland will be fortified with the knowledge they have beaten the Scots in very trying circumstances.
Townsend has turned Scotland into a quality side, but Ireland, despite all the disappointment against England, found a way.