Scotland coach Townsend felt let down by French whistler
Gregor Townsend feels referee Mathieu Raynal gave streetwise Ireland the rub of the green in Dublin yesterday.
The Scotland coach was frustrated that the hosts got away with so much at the breakdown, spoiling several Scotland chances, and that the French official could have done more to prevent such gamesmanship.
“Having looked at a couple of incidents I thought we were unlucky. Whether it was players in green jerseys with hands on the ground not supporting their own bodyweight, ripping the ball as players went to their knees.
“We just didn’t get the luck at the breakdown but also credit goes to Ireland, they were fast in there and disrupting our ball close to the tryline.
“I’m really frustrated with the one at the end of the game because I was watching phase after phase and it didn’t look like many players were behind the tryline, and that was the offside line.
“But we have to be better than the decisions we were maybe getting on the field and take those opportunities.
“We knew we were in a game we had an opportunity to win, and we really stayed in the game for 80 minutes.”
Speaking of the dropped ball that cost his skipper Stuart Hogg a certain score, Townsend added: “He’s played rugby for a long time, you make mistakes, it’s an error, you flush and move on.
“He was outstanding on the field today. I thought his energy and his decisionmaking and his kicking was excellent and he’s led the team very well these past few weeks.
“Stuart will bounce back very quickly from that.”
For his part, Hogg held his hands up, saying: “It was a schoolboy error.
“I’m gutted with what happened. I can’t change what’s happened, I just have to get on with it. I’ve apologised to the boys but as I say, what will be will be and I have to move on.
“It’s bitterly disappointing to drop the ball over the line but we got ourselves into some good positions there.
“I’m incredibly proud of the boys. They fronted up, our defence stood firm something we’ve worked hard on over the past few weeks. We’re bitterly disappointed in that dressing-room not to come away with a positive result but we feel we’re in a good place and ultimately should have won that game.
“It’s now about kicking on and making sure we’re in a better place next Saturday.”