Changed days for ‘gallant losers’ Scotland

SCOTLAND captain Greig Laidlaw said his team were ‘a changed group’ after his side, so often the gallant losers, held on to upset Ireland 27-22 in the Six Nations.

With a wealth of attacking talent such as fullback Stuart Hogg and flyhalf Finn Russell, Scotland have proved they can score against some of the best sides in the world in recent years. Wins like yesterday’s, though, have been few and far between.

‘We are a changed group and we want to drive this whole thing forward,’ said Laidlaw, who hit two penalties in the final 10 minutes to secure the win.

‘When we pull these jerseys on at home, we don’t want to get beat anymore.’

Scotland have a dismal Six Nations record, having finished in the bottom two 11 times in the 17 seasons since Italy joined the fold.

They have not won on the opening weekend for more than a decade.

Outgoing coach Vern Cotter had an uncomfortable wait at Murrayfield for what he said was his best win in charge of the Scots.

‘We lost a bit of purchase in the second half... but credit to Greig and the boys they got it back,’ said Cotter, who is leaving for French club Montpellier in the summer.