Scots focus on their own flaws

 Scottish reaction: The weather. Ronan O'Gara's kicking in the second half. Scotland's lack of "execution". In many ways Ireland's fourth game of the Six Nations series was more simple than those that went before. The game might never have won a beauty pageant, but Ireland did what they had to do and that's what irked Scotland in the wake of losing the game. Ireland just did it better.

Scottish coach Frank Hadden was in no mood to condemn his side, who he has being trying to build up since confidence was shattered last season. Hadden, while doffing his hat to Ireland's ability to grind, saw light.

"I thought today was yet another magnificent defensive effort from our lads," he said. "The spirit, the commitment, the tenacity, the passion . . . The disappointment was we didn't execute well enough when we had the ball and that was really the difference between winning and losing. I actually thought we were going to turn it around."

The tangible feeling was Scotland believed they were within touching distance of taking the game. After Ireland's dominance failed to reflect itself on the scoreboard, the Scots thought the game was there to be grabbed despite the fact the home side were significantly better playing the conditions.

"The quality of kicking from Ronan O'Gara and the back three in the second half meant we always had to start whatever we were doing from deep in our own territory," said Hadden. "Probably on balance we didn't deserve to win but there were one or two areas where we didn't get the rub of the green either.

"We only won 23 out of 30 line outs. That's definitely something we need to address. I thought we were harshly done by in two of the lineouts, the not straight one and the delaying one. Of the other five that went adrift, it was a combination of factors. We would have liked to have picked off one or two of theirs.

"But in the end the conditions won out," he acknowledged. "What you then get is a really enthralling scrap, where there isn't going to be much in it at the end and I though we might turn it around and nick it. Credit to the Irish kicking game in the second half."

Fullback Hugo Southwell, a busy man for most of the game, left dreary Dublin frustrated Scotland were not permitted to play the game they wanted to play. That the conditions were dreadful for both teams and that Ireland have a significantly better hard ground battalion of runners appeared to be beside the point. Like Hadden, the Edinburgh Gunners player was concentrating on what Scotland failed to do, not what Ireland might have done under different circumstances.

"Obviously Ireland have some very dangerous players as well. They have really good runners out wide. But better conditions would have given us the option to play the way we wanted to play from the start of the week," said Southwell. "The decision was we'd play a different way if the weather dictated it. That's what we did but the problem was we didn't do it well enough. Ireland played better than us and deserved to win.

"I don't think Ireland have got many major weaknesses. I think they have been playing reasonably well. We all know they could have done better in this Six Nations, performance-wise. We know they've done well with results. But there are no real weaknesses. They're pretty solid all around the pitch and obviously their backs are a major strength and we had to try and stop them at source there. Again the weather didn't really allow them play the rugby they'd like to with the backs they've got.

"O'Gara's kicking, especially in the second half was spot on. I was obviously doing a lot of chasing at the back and he was hitting inches off the lines every time. It was very, very frustrating."

A downbeat Jason White, terse and sporting a stitched gash on his forehead, had some positive sounds for Eddie O'Sullivan. He believes Ireland can win in Twickenham next week. But as the championship has demonstrated so far, home advantage is proving to be a loyal ally. "I'm sure they (Ireland) can definitely beat England," he said. "I think the key for that game is that England are at home and the big advantage in the Six Nations this year is home advantage. I'd expect England to be favourites. In saying that Ireland can go there and be competitive and challenge for a win."