Ireland overpowered

UNDER-18 SIX NATIONS/Ireland 11 Scotland 25:THIS CANNOT continue. Ireland's traditional schools avenue into international age-grade rugby is a nod to the past, a system that worked like a dream in the amateur days.

The gulf in physical development between, on the one hand, the Irish and, on the other hand, the Welsh and Scottish teams they have met in this tournament has been alarming. Coach Peter Melia's boys have worked themselves to the bone to compete with boys playing out of men's bodies.

It is an uneven playing field that needs levelling - and soon. Otherwise, Ireland's next generation will be playing catch-up. A revolution in physical development is urgently required.

Too often here, two Irish lads could not deal with one Scottish ball-carrier, and the contact was made on opposition terms, as it was when Wales dominated Ireland on Wednesday evening.

For the record, Scotland's Alex Blair collected 20 points in half an hour during a masterful display of timing, support play and blurring footwork that yielded two tries and four solid shots at goal to end the contest almost before it began.

Ireland could not win enough ball to apply concerted pressure. Number eight David O'Callaghan looked the part in a back row where captain Brian O'Hara took too much on his shoulders by carrying the ball when O'Callaghan was better-built for that job.

Noel Reid struck two penalties and played with an intelligence on the ball others did not quite read. Gavin Nugent's late try was reward for Irish effort against huge odds.

IRELAND: N Reid (St Michael's); D McCarthy (Castletroy), M Kelleher (St Munchin's), D McSharry (Templeogue), M Allen (Methodist); L Marshall (Ballymena Academy), D O'Driscoll (PBC, Cork); B Cagney (PBC, Cork), N Annett (Methodist), J O'Connell (Clongowes); P Butler (Rockwell), B Marshall (St Andrew's); D Ryan (Gonzaga) B O'Hara (PBC, Cork capt), D O'Callaghan (Midleton). Replacements: M Atkinson (Grosvenor) for McSharry (15 mins); J Bloomfield (Coleraine) for O'Driscoll (45 mins); B Hayes (CBC Cork) for Marshall, C O'Hanlon (St Munchin's) for Kelleher (both 58 mins); J McKinney (Campbell) for Marshall, G Nugent (PBC Cork) for Reid (both 68 mins); P Pritchard (Ballymena) for Ryan, M Moore (Castleknock) for Cagney (both 70 mins); R Bent (St Mary's) for Butler (73 mins).

SCOTLAND: T Brown; R Drummond, A Blair, A Dunbar, S McKenzie; R Aitken, A Black; L Pettie, A Walker, N Little; C Connor, R Harley; M Maltman, M Fedo, S McInally (capt). Replacements: M Tait for Blair (32 mins); M Learmo for McKenzie (ht); G Gilchrist for Connor (50 mins); S Hughes for Brown, R Weir for Black (both 55 mins); C Owenson for Pettie (60); J Hill for Fedo (68).

Referee: C Lafon (France).