Scotland came out strong but a schoolboy error cost us in the end
STUART HOGG played well and captained the team superbly. Sadly for him, this game will be remembered for the way he lost concentration and failed to score what would have been a vital try. There can be no excuses. It was a schoolboy error that proved costly. His team-mates had done all the hard work. He was over the try-line. Then that happens. Gutting for Stuart, his team-mates and Scotland fans.
Yes, we were beaten but what an effort. And you know something? Finn Russell wasn’t missed one little bit. Adam Hastings played really well. If this team learn to take their chances, they can beat anybody on their day.
As a back-row forward of old, it was frustrating for me to see the Scots pack work so hard in those final few minutes and come away with nothing. We also weren’t at our best at the breakdown.
I was very impressed by Scotland, particularly for the way they started the game. They needed to come out strong and they did.
They would have been kicking themselves that they didn’t take advantage of the four times they were close to the Ireland line in the first 40 minutes. That is too many times to be that close to scoring tries and giving up possession as easy as Scotland did.
It was vital that they fronted up in defence away from home and they did that. Our scrum was looking good, too.
That, for me, is down to the positive influence from new defence coach Steve Tandy and scrum coach Pieter de Villiers.
Hastings had a good first half and I was impressed by the way he took the game to the Irish.
For all our possession, it was Ireland who got the only try in the first half through Johnny Sexton from a pass from Conor Murray. They didn’t threaten the Scottish line as much as we did theirs but they showed how to take your chance.
I was also a bit concerned over the defensive side of Huw Jones’ game as Bundee Aki made two breaks past him in the first 40 minutes. It improved in the second period.
It was good for Scotland that Sexton missed a penalty just before the break because being only four points behind kept us in the game.
We didn’t start the second half too well, making too many mistakes, but after that, there was a bit more composure shown.
I was impressed by the attacking lines run but yet again they couldn’t take their opportunities.
Hogg’s missed chance was a turning point. The Ireland team knew they had been let off the hook big time. He needs to get over his glaring miss but it won’t be easy.
I had no idea what Sam Johnson was thinking when he blocked a run from Irish winger Andrew Conway. That gave away a vital penalty which Sexton put over to give his side a six-point lead.
Those last three minutes summed up Scotland on the day. A great break from Stuart McInally, a superb run from Hamish Watson and a drive from W P Nel. They were camped on the Irish line before they lost the ball just inches out.
It was a close defeat and we played much better than many expected. England are up next and we can go into that game with optimism. This was a very good performance that lacked decent finishing.
Roared on by the crowd at BT Murrayfield, there is every chance Scotland can win the Calcutta Cup.
There is certainly a lot to build on. Prop Rory Sutherland did really well and second-row Scott Cummings had a good game. It is a luxury to have two hookers as good as Fraser Brown and McInally.
There are lots of positives for Gregor Townsend but, once again, it is a loss when a win could have been achieved. It’s tough being a Scotland fan, isn’t it?