Attritional in defence and sparkling in attack, Scotland finally lived up to pre-tournament promise and set the tone.
To be in the Scotland breakfast room on Sunday must have been an unfamiliar sight. For the first time since 2006 would there have been smiles all round and a spring in their step. In fact I could well picture the Scottish players and staff resembling newly born lambs.
Joe Schmidt, Ireland’s Kiwis supremo, bemoaned arriving at BT Murrayfield 15 minutes late.
“We were late for most things all first-half” said Schmidt.
“We were sluggish, we got some really good field position in the first half and didn’t convert. That was frustrating.
“They got too much room to move, we were sluggish to close that space down and missed a few tackles.”
Stuart Hogg, Scotland’s dazzling full back, took full advantage of a lacklustre Ireland side and bagged two first half tries to set Scotland on their way to a victory not many outside of Scotland were confident of achieving.
It’s become all too familiar, you know- Scotland competing, looking like they could cause an upset, only to fall away and end up with that demoralising “plucky losers” tag. A description that Captain Greig Laidlaw says is all behind them.
When asked if he thought the result showed a change in the Scots mentality, Laidlaw said: “Yeah, there is, definitely.
“We know what plays to go to when we’re in tight games. It’s the way we’re coached during the week through Vern and the other coaches, we know how to build pressure on teams, gather field position and that’s why we won.
“It was so pleasing to come back and close it out. Just to grab it back was so pleasing.”
The Scottish fans inside Murrayfield were celebrating like it was a World Cup final and it was evident just how much this victory meant to them. Scotland fans have been long suffering over the years and it was starting to have an effect on the crowds and atmosphere at BT Murrayfield. Not yesterday though.
Whenever the Irish fans gave out a chorus of “Fields if Athenry” the faithful out sung them marvellously. The last few minutes were deafening with seemingly the whole stadium belting out “Flower of Scotland” as if it had been banned by the Westminster Tory government and was illegal to sing, such was the backing the men in dark blue were getting.
Judging by the games on the opening weekend it would be difficult to argue against taking a lot more than the token Scottish representation seen on the last few tours. In the engine room the Gray brothers, Richie and Jonny, were superb with the latter making a record 28 tackles in the 80 minutes, not one missed.
Laidlaw showed his maturity and how the speed of his delivery can be upped when playing behind a pack going forward. Russell again showed he is capable of dictating a game whilst the rest of the Scots backs performed admirably in both attack and defence.
John Barclay impressed when he came on, adding calm and experience when it was needed.
Scotland may have turned the corner, or at least having a good look to see what is around it, but the proof in the pudding will be what happens next weekend in Paris.
Can Scotland upset the odds? They’ve done that already, but I still believe it will go down to the final game in Dublin on March 18, when England arrive at the Aviva hoping to secure their second championship under Eddie Jones.
Well done Scotland, but there is expectation now to deliver that sort of performance on a consistent basis. Could it be a fairytale ending for Vern Cotter? The bookies have slashed their odds on it happening…
Mike
Revo Rugby - Grow the Game! 