Captain’s calamity
Stuart Hogg apologises as horrific fumble costs brave Scots in thrilling clash
Scotland went into this game fearing a hiding after a boozy incident for which playmaker-in-chief Finn Russell had to be disciplined. They left wondering how on earth they had let Ireland off the hook.
A “schoolboy error” in the 51st minute from captain Stuart Hogg, who inexcusably dropped the ball over the line as he was in the process of placing it down in the corner, summed up a profligate display in which they made 11 trips into Ireland’s 22, spending almost six minutes in there, for a grand total of six points. Hogg admitted his team were “bitterly disappointed” with the result.
“It was a schoolboy error,” he said of his own mistake. “I can’t change what happened. I have apologised to the boys and I’ve got to move on.”
Ireland, in fairness, defended admirably throughout. But this was a huge let-off for Andy Farrell, who needs to make the most of the honeymoon period he is currently enjoying. You sense – despite the positivity swirling about him just now – that things could turn quickly should he and his fellow Englishman Mike Catt, who he has brought on board as his new attack coach, stutter at this Six Nations.
This was a game he dared not lose. Ireland do not lose at home – they didn’t under Joe Schmidt anyway; just once since 2016 – and certainly not to Scotland, who came into this game having won just once in the Irish capital in the Six Nations era (at Croke Park in 2010 – their losing record at Lansdowne Road stretches back more than 20 years).
On top of which, Scotland arrived reeling from their internecine conflict, with Russell sent home in disgrace.
Adam Hastings did a more than decent job as Russell’s stand-in, giving Gregor Townsend and Hogg a bit of bargaining power heading into the England game on Saturday. Had he frozen on his first Six Nations start, had Scotland been pummelled, they would have been in the position of going capin-hand to their first-choice No 10.
After this performance, Townsend will probably leave his star fly-half to stew a little longer. Scotland’s coach hinted afterwards that Russell was unlikely to return for the Calcutta Cup.
Scotland began much the better team, finding space around the edges. Hogg’s dancing feet evaded multiple Irish tacklers in the lead-up to Hastings’s first penalty as the visitors took an early lead. And even after Ireland scored through their captain Johnny Sexton – making clever use of a penalty advantage with Conor Murray standing off the back of a ruck and putting his team-mate through the gap – Scotland looked to be positive. Huw Jones was sharp on his return, Hastings was offloading out the back, even Jonny Gray was getting in on the act, as well as tackling himself to the usual standstill: 26 by the time he came off.
Scotland also got the rub of the green early on, Leinster’s debutant No 8 Caelan Doris having to depart the game after just four minutes following a clash of heads. Hogg really ought to have been penalised for a late tap tackle on Jordan Larmour, too. But they failed to capitalise, albeit that was in large part down to Ireland’s brilliant defence. James Ryan, Pete O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander produced some massive defensive plays in their own 22, the last coming right at the end of the first half when Stander won a turnover after Scotland’s thrilling counter-attack from a Sam Johnson interception.
The second half featured more of the same, Larmour intercepting when it looked as if Scotland would score. Larmour produced a mixed bag in general; so dangerous ball in hand, so different to Rob Kearney, he terrorised Scotland’s back line one minute, only to put his foot into touch trying to run the ball out of his own 22 the next.
At least he did not drop the ball over the try line like Hogg. Townsend, naturally, stood up for his captain. “You shouldn’t be ranking mistakes, whether someone drops the ball over the try-line or in their own 22, its an error that you flush and move on,” he said. “I thought he was outstanding.”
Townsend was less happy about his team giving away 15 penalties, with Sexton slotting four to go with his converted try. “Fifteen is too many to give away to win a Test match in a venue where Ireland have only lost once in the last five years,” he admitted.
Ireland fans have their own concerns. The narrative that emerged in the wake of the World Cup last autumn – that Ireland were too conservative, that they relied too much on structure, that Schmidt held on too tight, that he selected on experience rather than form – was one to which Ireland’s players had readily subscribed. But having done so much distancing from the previous regime, Ireland needed to produce a big performance. This wasn’t it, though it is too early to judge.
“I wouldn’t say relief,” Farrell replied when asked whether he felt Ireland had wriggled off the hook. “I would say delighted to get the win. I thought we thoroughly deserved it. We showed true Irish grit.”
They will need more of the same next weekend if they allow Wales as many entries into their 22.