SCOTLAND MUST GET ‘much, much better’ very quickly or they will miss out on the World Cup quarter-finals, dejected coach Gregor Townsend warned after they were soundly beaten by Ireland.
Ireland romped home 27-3, scoring the only four tries in the match for a bonus-point win to be level with Japan at the top of Pool A after their opening games.
Townsend was at a loss to explain why his side lacked the ‘energy, accuracy and aggression’ required at World Cup level.
“That’s what we’re asking each other. The energy wasn’t as high as it has to be to beat a team like Ireland. We just missed the start of that game which was very disappointing,” he said.
“We need to win our next three games. We have to bounce back and be a lot better against Samoa and carry that on to Russia and especially Japan who started the tournament well.”
The coach said there was ‘disappointment obviously’ at the Scotland effort.
“We have to play much, much better in our next three games if we are going to make it out of our pool,” he said.
“We feel the game we play can pressure the opposition when accurate. It’s a game that involves running the ball, kicking and defence and all those aspects have to be much better if we are to progress into the quarter-finals.”
Townsend was left sweating on the availability of flanker Hamish Watson, who was stretchered from the field with a knee injury.
He was to undergo scans overnight which would determine whether he would take further part in the tournament.
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Yeah, ye will vote for us next time ! #Ire2027
I thought Barnes let them away with a lot of crooked line out ball too.
@murt de murty: the same was happening in England v Tonga… very crooked throws missed
Reminds me of Ireland in the 90s, bog standard players with a sprinkling of one or two decent guys who are poorly coached and who enter into games with fingers crossed that a performance is going to happen. Bringing on a hooker for a flanker with 50+ minutes left to play is junior rugby stuff. Scotland and Townsend got what they deserved today which is F all.
@Jim Demps: In fairness to them it’s not as simple as that. Thomson is more of a lock/6 and bringing him on would’ve meant a big change in their style of play. Brown has played openside for Scotland on a couple of occasions so it’s clearly something they’ve thought about. Himself and McInally are both converted flankers to so it’s not like they subbed in an immobile front row for a flanker.
@Eddie Hekenui: I don’t believe for a second that either hooker was a better option than an actual backrower in Thompson. Brown is an 18 stone hooker, no way he has the legs or ability to be playing against Ireland. You’d get away with it against Russia, not Ireland. Absolutely suicidal decision making from the coaches.
@Jim Demps: I’d agree Jim. The guff the likes of Hogg, et al, were throwing out all week was nonsense. They were gonna target Sexton, had a plan to deal with Conway and Larmour…Managed to do f all on the day. Completely blown away. They’re lucky to be 8th in the world in my opinion.
@Jim Demps: Thomson came on after 50 minutes so they’d have been doing it for the last 30 anyway. It’s the nature of the bench that you can’t cover every position perfectly so sacrifices have to be made
Japan will fancy beating them
@The Debater: absolutely, Japan will be focusing on Scotland big time
I don’t think Scotland have much else. A pretty average side, who excel at lobbing out threats they completely fail to follow up on when it comes to match day. I’ve never quite understood why we regularly see them as a threat, they’ve beaten us 5 times in 23 meetings.
Scotland will not play as poorly again in the World Cup as they did today.
We beat them in every facet of the game and never gave them a chance but on their day they are capable of beating sides rated above them.
@Mark Smith: I don’t think they are, they may pull off a fluke but there is no real plan, this wishy washy Townsend play from anywhere and try anything just doesn’t cut it. Especially against better coached teams etc. I think Scotland are a bit lost again instead of improving under Townsend and what he did at Glasgow. Maybe ulster did Ireland a favour nabbing mcfarland from Scotland, I think he kept Townsend’s crazy side in check.
@Mark Smith:
In the 6Nations they did have the fluke result ::that is what the posts were afraid of !!
Our pack did it with a very good if not exciting Back line ::
Well done to all :: COYBIG