Murphy soars above welter of mediocrity

Scotland 31 Ireland 21:Opting to dig deep into the reserves for the third game running, Ireland duly went down to a third successive loss and first against the Scots in eight meetings. So much for the new-found strength in depth.

Granted, this was Scotland's first-choice team, more or less, but little or nothing about this deeply disquieting defeat dispelled the fear Ireland remain inordinately dependent upon a vast raft of their main men.

Viewed in that light, the injury sustained by Shane Horgan in the warm-up was quite the most unnerving aspect of a sopping, forgettable afternoon in Edinburgh. Given what happened to Geordan Murphy four years ago, it would surely be tempting fate to have another warm-up at this venue prior to World Cup 2011.

Quite what the 2011 generation of Irish frontliners will be like is a concern that can be parked for another day. More pertinently, on the evidence of the Argentinian Tests and now this, Horgan would appear to be one of 10 or 11 players without whom Ireland's World Cup could be derailed.

The pack provided little setpiece platform. Both props struggled in the scrums, especially on Ireland's put-in, and it was striking how much it steadied when John Hayes's sheer strength was introduced.

After seemingly going well in Argentina, Bryan Young and Simon Best disappointed here. Not only Hayes, but Marcus Horan too can be included among the "untouchables".

Coach Frank Hadden said the Scots rated the defensive Irish lineout as the best in the world along with that of the Springboks, but there was scant evidence of it here. Ireland hardly contested one of the 24 Scottish lineouts, nicking only one, and their own tally of seven out of nine on their own throws raised questions about the gameplan.

Alan Quinlan added defensive ballast in his combined tally of 35 minutes or so as a converted lock, but like him, the back row were largely confined to defending.

Stephen Ferris made some big hits, but never remotely looked like an openside, either in his defensive lines or at the breakdown. Maybe it was the shortened hairstyle, but Neil Best was surprisingly anonymous.

Though quiet enough, Jamie Heaslip turned water into wine at the base, and also put in his hits. Not for the first time, you wonder how he might fare with seven Munstermen around him and a bit of go-forward ball.

Eoin Reddan's lack of game time grows ever more puzzling. As some of his kicking and running showed, Isaac Boss is a good footballer, but his pass was again laboured. Paddy Wallace showed his running threat and landed some good penalties, but Ronan O'Gara's first, unerring touchfinder underlined Wallace's comparatively short kicking game.

The midfield, admittedly undermined by different combinations, was surprisingly passive and porous. Brian O'Driscoll, even more than Paul O'Connell, needed this blow-out, and might well need another few games to reach optimum level.

It wasn't a day for the wings, and though Brian Carney looked strong in contact, defensively he looked a little unsure, and he overran one try-scoring pass from Geordan Murphy.

Most of all, it was surprising that the Scots looked better-conditioned, generally bossing the collisions. They were a week ahead in their contact work and that can make a significant difference. Granted too, the conditions better suited their tactics and perhaps Eddie O'Sullivan is deliberately keeping his powder dry.

At least there was Murphy's performance. His flying take of Chris Paterson's crosskick would have adorned an Aussie Rules match. Also kicking sweetly and making a big contribution to both Irish tries, he not alone rendered any debate about his inclusion in France utterly risible but also made a compelling case for his return to the starting XV.

This time four years ago, Murphy was too sedated to realise the extent of the leg break he had sustained in the corresponding fixture. He would not have been human if he hadn't had forebodings about Saturday.

"I've rarely been so nervous before a match," admitted the normally easygoing fullback.

He responded and came through with flying colours. Fair play to him, all the more so after Horgan's disaster in the warm-up.

"It's just horrible," said Murphy. "I really hope for his sake that he's okay. I've been in that situation. He's such a nice guy off the field and such an important player."

Ain't that the truth.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 3 mins: Hogg try, Paterson con 7-0; 10: Wallace pen 7-3; 24: Henderson try, Paterson con 14-3; 26: Murphy pen 14-6; 37: Murray try 19-6; (half-time) 19-6; 46: Henderson try 24-6; 48: Boss try, Wallace con 24-13; 56: Trimble try 24-18; 60: Wallace pen 24-21; 73: Henderson try, Parks con 31-21.

SCOTLAND: R Lamont; S Lamont, R Dewey, A Henderson, S Webster; C Paterson, M Blair; A Jacobsen, R Ford, E Murray; N Hines, J Hamilton; J White (capt), A Hogg, S Taylor. Replacements: F Thomson for Ford (39-40 mins and 67 mins), C Smith for Murray, S MacLeod for Hines (both 58 mins), N Walker for Dewey (60 mins), C Cusiter for Blair, D Parks for Paterson (both 62 mins), K Brown for Hamilton (76 mins).

IRELAND: G Murphy; B Carney, B O'Driscoll (capt), G Duffy, T Bowe; P Wallace, I Boss; B Young, J Flannery, S Best; M O'Kelly, P O'Connell, N Best, S Ferris, J Heaslip. Replacements: A Quinlan for O'Kelly (6-11, 24-33 and 59 mins), A Trimble for Duffy (26 mins), K Gleeson for N Best (63 mins), R O'Gara for O'Driscoll (67 mins), J Hayes for Young (71 mins), R Best for J Flannery, E Reddan for Boss.

Referee: T Spreadbury (England).