Seeing the future by analysing the past

Putting the Ireland v Scotland match in perspective

HOW THE MATCH UNFOLDED

Little did Ireland know that this would be the first in a sequence of four consecutive defeats that would see them lose twice to France, away, and at home, and then to England in Dublin.

Scotland dominated possession but it was Ireland that led at the interval thanks to a penalty from Jonathan Sexton. Scottish fullback Chris Paterson brought the sides level with a similar strike nine minutes after the interval.

It was the least the home side deserved as they butchered three decent try-scoring opportunities.

A spiralling error count made it a turgid spectacle, although both sides were trying to play an offloading game. Declan Kidney emptied the bench and Ireland nudged in front when Sexton kicked a second penalty with 15 minutes remaining; the latter is short from close to the halfway line with another effort.

The Scots finally brought training ground precision to a backline move and Nick de Luca makes the insertion to allow Joe Ansbro (pictured above) to run in a try with two minutes remaining.

Ruaridh Jackson tags on the conversion.

LESSONS FOR SCOTLAND

They’ll need to be a great deal more accurate in terms of their execution than they were last August when Ireland managed 18 turnovers. The Scots must also heed the lineout statistics as they coughed up four balls in the set-piece, on two occasions reasonably close to the Irish line.

In the last match they opted to kick to the corner rather than at goal; something they won’t be doing today.

They had almost twice as much possession as the Irish and that has to be reflected on the scoreboard this time – a cutting edge is a key to their ambition.

LESSONS FOR IRELAND

Given the number of changes to the Ireland team that runs out today including Paul O’Connell and Seán O’Brien, ruled out this week, there is less relevancy to the match last August but a couple of things do pertain in general terms. The Scots dominated possession, and on the evidence of their last outing in the Six Nations against France, possess more of a cutting edge. Ireland do not want to be defending for long periods.

Scotland dominated the French lineout against whom Ireland struggled the last day. The Irish set-piece must be largely unerring and they can’t give ball away cheaply.

This is a huge test of character for the home side and a time for new leaders to emerge: subtlety in attack and aggression in defence.

August 6th, 2011 – Murrayfield – Scotland 10 Ireland 6

WHO THE COACHES SELECTED

Injuries deprived Ireland of several front-line players as Ireland coach Declan Kidney embarked on the first of a four match pre-World Cup fixture list. Mike McCarthy (right) made his Ireland debut – so too did Felix Jones when coming on as a replacement – and the Connacht secondrow returns to the match squad this weekend. Ireland boast just four starters today from the team that played last August, Rob Kearney, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton and Donnacha Ryan while the Scots retain eight , including six of the pack.

Their Zimbabwean-born number eight David Denton came off the bench to make his debut.