The autopsy is underneath approach after Scotland exited the Rugby World Cup on the pool stage for the second time in a row.
The 36-14 defeat by a cruel Eire aspect left the gamers devastated and head coach Gregor Townsend taking full duty for a meek efficiency.
So what went flawed, and what must occur now? We requested you, the followers, to your views. Here’s what a few of you needed to say…
An excessive amount of speak, not sufficient motion
Alasdair: They speak massive however fail to ship in massive video games. We’re consistently promised an 80-minute efficiency however they present such naivety and a scarcity of fundamental rugby nous. Set-piece errors, not scientific, and so forth. Townsend ought to go. The workforce should not transferring ahead and make the identical outdated errors.
Patrick: Scotland ought to preserve quiet earlier than video games; telling everybody how they’re going to win after which getting destroyed. They obtained what they deserved. Do not speak earlier than a match.
Alan: You may’t simply play ‘your personal sport’, which is what I used to be listening to all week. Choose gamers to defend. Eire blitzed the 13 channel and it wanted Chris Harris. Take kickable factors when out there. And eventually, high-pace assault choices when extra space is obtainable.
Three sheds: All of us knew it was going to be very powerful. It is one factor to get in a optimistic way of thinking earlier than the match, however there’s far an excessive amount of guff spoken by the gamers about our probabilities. On-field actions converse far louder than phrases.
Zander: Sure Scotland’s gameplan is to go aspect to aspect seeking to create a niche, however for the time being we aren’t creating gaps within the midfield. Is that as a result of we’re liable to getting remoted and turned over?
Robert: This was all the time going to occur. Scotland didn’t have anybody on the park to vary ways when plan A didn’t work. No plan B. No plan C. They had been one dimensional like final yr’s sport and Eire dominated the line-out and dominated Scotland’s throw. Eire have plans for all eventualities and a very good coach who has deliberate.
‘No must be too unfavorable’
Rod: No must be too unfavorable. Scotland are an incredible rugby workforce however their fashion of play was thwarted by the Boks and the Irish defence, which stopped us getting any momentum. The 2 improbable tries within the second half confirmed how Scotland can assault with aptitude and velocity. We simply did not get sufficient alternatives in opposition to two groups at their peak.
Daniel: Cease blaming Scotland, the workforce, the administration. They weren’t allowed get their sport going. Eire had been on fireplace. They merely did not enable the Scots into the sport. They may enhance, they don’t seem to be a nasty squad. Good luck going ahead. (This from an Irish supporter).
Angus: Maybe it is the lofty requirements we now holding this Scotland workforce to, however coming any place greater than third would have been one of many largest upsets in World Cup historical past. Proficient workforce, not wasted by Gregor, however by the shambolic determination to attract swimming pools two/three years earlier than the match begins. England [especially] and even Wales have it oh really easy.
Ian: I feel Scotland are transferring in the appropriate course however that was all the time going to be a tough group to get out of.
Steve: Scotland by no means regarded on the races, however neither do England. Suppose the grouping was harsh and all the time going to be powerful to get to the quarter-finals.
Donald: Eire had been deserving of the win however Scotland made it straightforward for them. Factors weren’t taken once they had been on supply so no strain was constructed on the scoreboard. While the referee did not assist, Scotland’s technique was naive and Townsend’s workforce choice was poor. Darcy Graham was discovered wanting and the pack missed Hamish Watson.
Is Townsend’s time up?
Aan: Underperformance underneath Gregor Townsend but once more. Why is he nonetheless within the teaching set-up? We’ve a good pool of gamers, notably within the backs, who ought to have the ability to do higher than this embarrassment.
Bob: Townsend and his teaching workforce should see what all of us see if plan A, to go vast by way of Finn Russell, does not work. Each the South Africa and Eire video games are proof sufficient, we merely don’t have any different plan. We’d like extra selection in our sport and be extra ruthless. Factors on supply ought to all the time be taken at this stage, particularly early on within the sport.
Jock: Gregor is 0/9 in opposition to Eire. If he cannot discover a approach then possibly some new concepts are obligatory.
Ron: Even when we do discover ourselves at one thing of a watershed on the worldwide teaching entrance, there stay extra essentially deep-rooted structural, cultural and organisational deficiencies inside Scottish Rugby.
Gavin: If you wish to proceed with similar fashion of rugby, then three issues to get higher. One, we’ll by no means have “bomb squad” sizes so we must be the small guys that pack a giant punch, being higher over the ball and in touch, sooner, decrease. Two. sport administration – take three factors when out there, particularly early in sport. Three, psychologically and the mindset to win.
Alasdair: Eire demonstrated that success is based on impenetrable defence. Scotland had been weakened by a defensively poor workforce choice, faltering set-piece and a predictable assault.