Rugby World Cup 2023: Scotland fans share their views on pool-stage exit
- Published
Scotland were convincingly defeated 36-14 by Ireland
The post-mortem examination is under way after Scotland exited the Rugby World Cup at the pool stage for the second time in a row.
The 36-14 defeat by a merciless Ireland side left the players devastated and head coach Gregor Townsend taking full responsibility for a meek performance.
So what went wrong, and what needs to happen now? We asked you, the fans, for your views. Here is what some of you had to say...
Too much talk, not enough action
Alasdair: They talk big but fail to deliver in big games. We are constantly promised an 80-minute performance but they show such naivety and a lack of basic rugby nous. Set-piece errors, not clinical, etc. Townsend should go. The team are not moving forward and make the same old errors.
Patrick: Scotland should keep quiet before games; telling everyone how they are going to win and then getting destroyed. They got what they deserved. Don't talk before a match.
Alan: You can't just play 'your own game', which is what I was hearing all week. Select players to defend. Ireland blitzed the 13 channel and it needed Chris Harris. Take kickable points when available. And finally, high-pace attack options when more space is available.
Three sheds: We all knew it was going to be very tough. It's one thing to get in a positive frame of mind before the match, but there's far too much guff spoken by the players about our chances. On-field actions speak far louder than words.
Zander: Yes Scotland's gameplan is to go side to side looking to create a gap, but at the moment we are not creating gaps in the midfield. Is that because we are prone to getting isolated and turned over?
Robert: This was always going to happen. Scotland did not have anyone on the park to change tactics when plan A did not work. No plan B. No plan C. They were one dimensional like last year's game and Ireland dominated the line-out and dominated Scotland's throw. Ireland have plans for all eventualities and an excellent coach who has planned.
'No need to be too negative'
Rod: No need to be too negative. Scotland are a great rugby team but their style of play was thwarted by the Boks and the Irish defence, which stopped us getting any momentum. The two fantastic tries in the second half showed how Scotland can attack with flair and speed. We just didn't get enough opportunities against two teams at their peak.
Daniel: Stop blaming Scotland, the team, the management. They weren't allowed get their game going. Ireland were on fire. They simply didn't allow the Scots into the game. They will improve, they are not a bad squad. Good luck going forward. (This from an Irish supporter).
'I'm upset and I don't know how to deal with it'
Angus: Perhaps it's the lofty standards we now holding this Scotland team to, but coming any position higher than third would have been one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Talented team, not wasted by Gregor, but by the shambolic decision to draw pools two/three years before the tournament starts. England [especially] and even Wales have it oh so easy.
Ian: I think Scotland are moving in the right direction but that was always going to be a difficult group to get out of.
Steve: Scotland never looked at the races, but neither do England. Think the grouping was harsh and always going to be tough to get to the quarter-finals.
Donald: Ireland were deserving of the win but Scotland made it easy for them. Points weren't taken when they were on offer so no pressure was built on the scoreboard. Whilst the referee didn't help, Scotland's strategy was naive and Townsend's team selection was poor. Darcy Graham was found wanting and the pack missed Hamish Watson.
Is Townsend's time up?
Aan: Underperformance under Gregor Townsend yet again. Why is he still in the coaching set-up? We have a decent pool of players, particularly in the backs, who should be able to do better than this embarrassment.
Bob: Townsend and his coaching team must see what we all see if plan A, to go wide through Finn Russell, doesn't work. Both the South Africa and Ireland games are evidence enough, we simply have no other plan. We need more variety in our game and be more ruthless. Points on offer should always be taken at this level, especially early on in the game.
Jock: Gregor is 0/9 against Ireland. If he can't find a way then maybe some new ideas are necessary.
Ron: Even if we do find ourselves at something of a watershed on the international coaching front, there remain more fundamentally deep-rooted structural, cultural and organisational deficiencies within Scottish Rugby.
Gavin: If you want to continue with same style of rugby, then three things to get better. One, we'll never have "bomb squad" sizes so we need to be the small guys that pack a big punch, being better over the ball and in contact, faster, lower. Two. game management - take three points when available, especially early in game. Three, psychologically and the mindset to win.
Alasdair: Ireland demonstrated that success is founded on impenetrable defence. Scotland were weakened by a defensively poor team selection, faltering set-piece and a predictable attack.