SOLE ON RUGBY

Scotland missed out on an opportunity to demonstrate real progress last weekend when they slumped to a disappointing defeat against the French at Murrayfield.

Despite an opportunity to kick to the corner and perhaps sneak a draw, it was the French who left with vengeance for their Six Nations defeat and a place in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup next weekend.

Scotland are beginning to look a lot like Wales of recent years. They have shored up their defence and have a belligerence and stubbornness which had been sadly absent.

Yet, with the focus on keeping the opposition out, they have lost their attacking mojo and haven’t looked particularly threatening against a solid, but not impenetrable, defence.

Last weekend the focus was on kicking, and perhaps it was in the hope that if the French engaged in aerial ping pong, that would give Scotland’s backthree the opportunity to counterattack.

Normally, Stuart Hogg is one of the most dangerous running the ball back, with his electric pace and devastating sidestep. But he was well marshalled and his threat was nullified.

What’s more, when Scotland kicked, they failed to put enough pressure on the French catchers in the air.

This was an area in which Tommy Seymour excelled, and this skill played

When they are not on form, they are static and almost ponderous

a significant part in earning him a place on the Lions tour.

Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van de Merwe aren’t as confident, or as brave, as the relatively diminutive Seymour. But, even so, just the pressure of being under the ball as it is landing could have unsettled the French more.

Everyone knows that Duncan Weir doesn’t hold the same attacking threat as Finn Russell or Adam Hastings. But he should not bear the burden of blame for Scotland’s lack of cutting edge.

In many respects, it begins with the forwards. When Scotland are good, they are very good. Taking the ball at pace off the rucks, the Scottish forwards frequently break the gainline, look for offloads and create attacking momentum.

When they are not on form, they are static and almost ponderous, receiving a pass standing still five metres behind the gainline – they are easy meat for an aggressive defence, as the French were last Sunday.

Scotland will travel to Dublin to face Ireland next weekend, given that they have a weekend off because of Fiji’s exclusion from the competition.

Ireland are a bit of a bogey team for the Scots, who probably deserved to win earlier this year – Hogg dropping the ball over the line costing the visitors dear.

It is a great opportunity to lay down another marker and demonstrate that the win against Wales, away from home, was not a one-off.

If they can combine strong defence with a penetrative attack, then Ireland are there for the taking.