Yulqen

2023 10 09

If you’re a Scotland rugby fan, you can’t help but be embarrassed by their performance against Ireland on Saturday (a sorry 36-14 loss), for the following reasons.

• The pre-match arrogance (“we will end their winning run” - Blair Kinghorn)
• The failure to take points on offer in the first ten minutes
• The absolute and total acceptance of defeat within twenty minutes (whenever Ireland scored their second try)
• The players in tears on the bench (Kinghorn again)
• The trip on Jonny Sexton by Ollie Smith and the smirking when given the yellow card
• The pathetic handbags following the trip and little push by Sexton
• The total lack of creativity and ideas in the face of an admittedly great defence
• The Finn Russell being a bit of an arse once given the captain’s armband

There are probably many more reasons. I get the difficulty of the task, but as ever, Scotland made it far more difficult for themselves thanks to what seem to be endemic shortcomings.

I think it will take years to rebuild. Scotland have probably hit their ceiling and the only way is statis for a few years. Perhaps a decade, given the lack of kids coming through.

Ref:

• We understand Scotland fans’ disappointment
• A total slating by Tom English
• BBC Match Report