We threw away our title dream by leaving three or four tries out there

Maitland rues Dark Blues’ lack of cutting edge

SEAN MAITLAND admits Scotland’s lack of killer instinct is the reason they’ve ended another Six Nations campaign as also-rans.

The Dark Blues wing was part of a side that went for the throat of Ireland only to lose their grip when a clinical touch was required.

Time after time chances from Stuart Hogg, Huw Jones and Peter Horne, below, came and went at the Aviva Stadium before the inevitable outcome for a team incapable of combining the brilliance of their defence with a cutting edge in attack.

After a wasteful display in Dublin continued the dismal away form in this competition, Scotland remain a work in progress.

But Maitland insists lessons are being learned about the consequences of allowing opponents off the hook.

He said: “You’ve heard it before but you have to take your opportunities when you’re away.

“We probably left a good three tries – maybe even four – out there. Blair Kinghorn could have had a hat-trick but you’ve got to take these opportunities when you create them. “The onus is on the backs. We need to step up and finish those chances. It’s about skills under pressure and that comes from preparing right. “I thought we had a great week but these things happen. We prepared well during the week – and Gregor Townsend always puts our skills under pressure, especially when we’re fatigued. “Those are the things we still need to massively improve on.” It has all started so well with Greig Laidlaw firing over a penalty to give Scotland a lead and they managed to survive a period of sustained pressure only to inexplicably self-destruct.

Horne’s blind pass was intercepted by Jacob Stockdale who made the most of the naivety to race clear for a gift of a try which was converted by the impeccable Jonathan Sexton and a familiar tale began to unfold.

Stockdale would help himself to another shortly after and scores from Conor Murray and Sean Cronin slowly but surely edged the Irish out of sight as they claimed their third title in five years courtesy of a French win over England later on Saturday night.

Maitland knows it was a missed opportunity and this trip to the Irish capital was the one which got away despite flirting with a fightback after Kinghorn dived over midway through the second half.

He said: “If we had taken those chances it would have been different. Big time.

“You saw it, we wanted to keep the ball alive and to play rugby. When we