GUTTED SKIPPER HOGG IN NO MOOD FOR DUCKING CRITICISM
did show what we are about and what it means to play for Scotland.
‘But, at other times, we were far from good. We are gutted with that one.
‘At times, we played some decent rugby and we got in the right areas. But, ultimately, we let ourselves down at the vital times.’
‘Credit to France,’ added Hogg (right) ‘because they took their opportunities when on offer.
‘But did they have to work hard for their first three tries? Probably not. That’s the thing we are bitterly disappointed about.
‘When you let a team like France get on the front foot, it’s very difficult to stop them.
‘I think certainly two, maybe three of the first tries they scored were very good — but they were from our mistakes and that’s what is so frustrating. ‘It’s a horrible feeling, I’m not going to lie. We wanted to be in a position to give a true reflection of what we
are about and at times we showed that but unfortunately not enough.
‘It’s tough to take at the moment, it really is.’
Scotland fought back from a shaky start and actually had a great chance to take the lead just prior to half-time.
From a great attacking position, Chris Harris threw a woeful pass to butcher what should have been a simple try in the corner.
It was Hogg who could not quite manage to gather the pass.
The skipper tried to shoulder the blame, but it was Harris who had made the error.
‘We left points out there today, myself included because I let one go,’ said Hogg. ‘I let it go early doors and it could have changed the whole momentum of that game.
‘I’m bitterly disappointed with how that ended. I’d love to have caught that and scored because I thought that at that point the momentum was right behind us.
‘That’s something I am absolutely devastated with. It is what it is.
‘There was some decent stuff in there, but you have to be on the money for 80 minutes in Test match rugby.
‘If you don’t take your opportunities or cough up too cheaply, you will make things difficult for yourself.
‘France took their chances and that’s the difference between the scoreline. It’s horrible right now, horrible.
‘It’s a horrible feeling now but the worst thing is we have to wait two weeks before we play again. I speak on behalf of everybody involved in this squad that we’d love to play Italy tomorrow.’