Source: PA Wire/PA Images
JOE SCHMIDT STRUGGLED to explain Ireland’s sloppy performance as their Six Nations challenge crumbled on the opening day.
Two late Greig Laidlaw penalties snatched a 27-22 win for Scotland and ensured that Ireland had to be content to leave Murrayfield with a losing bonus point.
Ireland conceded three tries in a lacklustre first half and trailed 21-5 inside the opening half-hour, leaving themselves with a mountain to climb.
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“It’s particularly tough to take,” Schmidt told RTÉ, and explained that his team had been playing catch-up before the game even started.
“We were really well off our game and I think the Scottish attack took advantage of that. They’ve got some very sharp players, especially when they’re given some width.
“I thought we clawed our way back in the second half, I thought we shut down some of that attack. They didn’t score (a try) in the second half but as much as we clawed our way back, it was disappointing to let it slip at the end.
“We had some gilt-edged chances. Rob just put a foot in touch, Jamie almost got to the line. It’s incredibly disappointing but I know that Vern and the Scottish lads will be happy with that to start their campaign.”
While Schmidt was left to rue those missed half-chances, it was Ireland’s leaky defence and those three early tries that proved to be their undoing.
“We were very passive, we were very slow to get ourselves set, and that was incredibly disappointing because it’s something that we work incredibly hard on. It will be a tough reflection on Monday.”
He added: “We probably just missed our timing. We haven’t played for a long time and there’s a few changes in there as well since the last time we played.
“You’re always trying to bed things in as best you can in training, but until you actually get into the match arena and that pressure that comes with it, with that very slow ball we were getting in the first half, it does make it very difficult.”
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