Gallant losers no more as Scots display a new-found resilience
THERE is an all-too-familiar script in Scottish rugby that we have seen played out with frustrating frequency over the years – it’s the one about the gallant losers, the team that threatens for a time to win a game only to fall just short at the end.
With time running out at Murrayfield on Saturday, we were staring yet another rerun in the face as Ireland, who had been 21-5 down in the first half, went ahead 22-21. The avoidance of such an agonising ending is testament to the newfound mental toughness of the national team. Rather than finding novel ways to lose, as was once the habit, they are now a versatile outfit who can win a game via various routes.
In this case, the crucial player was Greig Laidlaw, not just because he scored the two penalties that gave Scotland the victory, but because his resolute leadership in times of crisis helped the rest of the team focus.
Almost the only pressure the home team had been under for the first half-hour was in the scrum, where Irish tighthead Tadhg Furlong had the better of Allan Dell. The penalising of the Scots loosehead at the first two setpieces was a concern, but something closer to parity was achieved as the game went on, while in the lineout Scotland held the edge throughout. It was a lineout that brought the game’s most memorable single passage of play when centre Alex Dunbar pulled off an audacious score. Laidlaw and Tommy Seymour were also in there, but the Irish either decided the presence of three backs in the lineout was a ruse, or they were simply so confused that they failed to respond when Ross Ford threw in for Dunbar to catch and race over the line.
That was Scotland’s third try of the afternoon, with less than half an hour having been played. Stuart Hogg had claimed the first two, and Laidlaw had converted all three. From 14-0 down, Ireland got on the scoreboard when Keith Earls touched down in the left corner, but the immediacy with which Scotland hit back through Dunbar was a hint of the determination that was to come much later in the game.
A penalty by Paddy Jackson narrowed the lead to 21-8 before half-time, and gave Ireland a glimmer of hope. Iain Henderson’s short-distance score in the 48th minute was ominous, and then Jackson, who had converted that try, added a full score of his own.
There were still nearly 20 minutes to play by that point, but for a time Ireland looked more likely to stretch their lead than Scotland did to hit back. A more assertive defence and a quicker tempo had been key to the visitors’ recovery, but the effort took its toll, and Scotland slowly got on top of the arm-wrestle.
Jonny Gray deserves special mention for his stupendous 28 tackles – twice as many as Devin Toner, Ireland’s top tackler – not to mention 14 carries. The Glasgow Warriors lock looks tireless at times, as does his teammate Zander Fagerson, who had possibly the best game of his fledgling career.
Hogg was outstanding as well, while Dunbar, so often an unsung hero among the backs, also enjoyed one of his best outings in a Scotland jersey.
In the end, though, it was that man Laidlaw who did the necessary. The scrum-half restored his team’s lead with a penalty eight minutes from time, and then, awarded another attempt at goal inside the final minute, he calmly let the clock run down to ensure his successful kick was the final action of the match.
This was an almost complete performance from Scotland, and one that gave them their first opening-day victory in the Six Nations since 2006. Next stop Paris, and a ground where they have gone even longer without a win. On this form you would not back against them. Referee R Poite (France) Attendance 67,144