Rugby World Cup: Gregor Townsend takes blame after Scotland thrashed by Ireland
- Published
'I'm upset and I don't know how to deal with it'
Head coach Gregor Townsend said "the responsibility is mine" after Scotland crashed out of the World Cup at the hands of a rampant Ireland.
The Scots had to win by eight points to reach the quarter-finals, but were routed, falling 36-0 behind inside an hour before eventually succumbing to a 36-14 defeat in Paris.
Scotland were underdogs to escape their pool, and having been well-beaten by South Africa and Ireland, Townsend says his side must learn from the chastening experience after a third group-stage exit in four tournaments.
"We certainly have to do better, and the responsibility is mine," he said. "We believed that we could get out of this pool, and we still believed that after losing to South Africa.
"You become a better team for defeats as well as victories, and we have to make sure that this defeat makes us a better team for the Six Nations and for the next World Cup.
"Ireland are a better team than us on tonight's performance, and that's their 17th win in a row so they have clearly been a better team over the last couple of years.
"If we can get on the journey they have been on, then great. It's one thing saying that, it's another thing doing it."
Captain Jamie Ritchie, who went off injured early in the contest, was at a loss to explain Scotland's performance.
They trailed inside 70 seconds to James Lowe's try and conceded five further scores, with late tries by Ewan Ashman and Ali Price only sparing further embarrassment.
"I don't know, it's a tough one," he said. "If I knew the answer, the result might be different. What we try to do is play our game - unfortunately it wasn't enough and full credit to Ireland, that's probably the best I've seen them play.
"[Ireland] all buy into how they want to play, they're very accurate, they do the simple things really well around the breakdown, they defend really well as a unit and they're really hard to break down."
'Scotland should be embarrassed & humiliated' - analysis
BBC Scotland's Tom English at Stade de France
Ireland are a world-class side. They have beaten everybody, and they have routed Scotland, embarrassed Scotland. I thought Scotland were better than this. It was men against boys.
Scotland have one trick. If they can't beat you by going wide, they can't beat you. Scotland are never going to win a trophy playing this way and that is the bitter reality.
Any Scotland fan who doesn't think that was embarrassing needs to have a word with themselves, because that is part of the problem.
This 'it'll do' attitude, 'get off the boys' back'. It's garbage - it always was and it always will be. 36-0 down in less than an hour, I don't care who you're playing, have some pride.
All those lads will be embarrassed, humiliated by that experience.
'Were Scotland all bluster & bravado?' - the pundits' view
Former Scotland full-back Chris Paterson on Sportsound: "I can understand how disappointed those Scotland players feel. It's a picture we've seen before in terms of Ireland being dominant, Ireland finding the answers.
"The frustrating thing is that in the first 15-20 minutes, where Ireland were in complete control, playing a brutally efficient brand of rugby that we couldn't deal with. Ireland are far more settled, organised, ruthless."
Former Glasgow Warriors back Colin Gregor on Sportsound: "The talk before the game - was that bluster, was it bravado? If you're going to talk the talk, you have to do more than Scotland did in that first 40 minutes.
"The easy option is to credit Ireland. They deserve credit for how they repelled Scotland in the opening stages, but thereafter Scotland made it too easy with a lack of variety and intensity."
Former Scotland back Johnnie Beattie on BBC Radio 5 live: "That was humbling. Scotland are top five in the world, so you give yourself a chance. But this game just shown the gulf between the two sides. Ireland were superb."
What are the fans saying?
Euan: Townsend should resign. It's not good enough. A really strong group of players wasted. Every game of real meaning under him we haven't showed.
MoLambo: Our strategy was totally lacking. The lads played the game plan against a relentless and strong Ireland but, no excuses, we were predictable and lacklustre. It was arguably wrong to play such a robust team. A waste.
Scott: Although Ireland thoroughly deserved their win, Scotland's task was not helped by poor decisions by the referee and TMO. This was not the only match where they were poorly treated by the authorities.
Bill: The ball was played out right and then out left. There was no idea or movement to get behind the Irish defence. It has been that way for a long time, relying on our wingers to make the break. So disappointed with that performance.
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