Six Nations 2010: Ireland x Scotland x compare report

By Brendan Gallagher in Dublin 600AM GMT twenty-two March 2010

Previous of Images Next Plenty to grin about Andy Robinson had a far-reaching grin on his face after his side avoided the wooden ladle with a slight feat over Ireland in Dublin Photo GETTY IMAGES Downed Cian Healy is tackled by Sean Lamont in the initial half Photo GETTY IMAGES

Scotland, enjoying really small fitness over the last 7 weeks, have contributed mightily to this year"s Six Nations and after this certainty boosting delight they go brazen with some-more goal than most.

Before the Championship, Robinson betrothed a lapse to "organised chaos" and they have positively delivered on that front with all the passion and craving for the lax round that we join forces with with the really majority appropriate Scotland sides. But Scotland underneath Robinson have contributed some-more than usually Braveheart madness, they have played a little excellent rugby that in an additional deteriorate would have garnered a Triple Crown.

Ireland twenty Scotland twenty-three Ieuan Evans Ireland unprotected by miss of round Robinson has done Scotland winners again Six Nations movement Wales 33 Italy 10 Sport on radio

"It"s really easy for everybody to see behind and go "what could have been", that"s not what veteran competition is about," pronounced Robinson aferwards. "While we"ve had a series of setbacks, the guys have regularly had genuine self-belief...These guys have not since up at any theatre in the tournament."

Scotland"s front row probably ranks second usually to France on stream form, the line-out has worked well and took Ireland to the cleaners here at Croke Park, whilst the behind row of Kelly Brown, Johnnie Beattie and John Barclay additionally unclothed some-more aged with the French and will usually get improved as a unit.

Best of all for Robinson fly-half Dan Parks, mostly majority maligned in the ealy stages of his general career, has found his Test feet and has reeled off no less than 3 man of the compare performances in new weeks. His beautifully struck banana flog opposite a witty breeze to win Saturday"s compare at the genocide was dictatorial and the sweetest of moments for a player who emerged from the bad times with his head hold high.

Scotland"s achilles heel - and something Robinson and his patrol contingency still work on - is still a miss of clinical finishing in the oppostion"s 22. In short they need to measure some-more tries.

The loss by damage of Tom Evans and Rory Lamont, their dual majority satirical backs, has been a cause but a miss of pointy meditative has additionally contributed. Its partly a certainty thing and Saturday"s win will certainly assistance in that respect.

A short debate of Argentina this summer is their subsequent stepping mill and the Pumas - World Cup opponents along with England subsequent year - will be the preferred opponents. A strong exam up front and a counterclaim that needs violation by transparent meditative and secrecy as majority as energy and pace.

Ireland in conclusion disappointed, nonetheless they had their moments. A second Grand Slam was never expected and their substantial Lions fortuitous from last summer are commencement to see in need of a rest. Rob Kearney endured a contest to forget, Brian O"Driscoll and Paul O"Connell were pale by their standards and even David Wallace was feeling the gait on Saturday.

They still have the iota of a excellent side but the scrum is creaking horribly and the line-out got wiped out opposite the Scots. Their majority appropriate line-out brazen by far is Leinster captain Leo Cullen - their man of the compare in the opening dual games - but Declan Kidney is demure to mangle up the Munster pairing of O"Connell and Donncha O"Callaghan. He will have to punch the bullet shortly on that one.

It could additionally be time to ask that superb menial John Hayes to step down. The large Tony Buckley has intensity but Ireland are using out of time to get him entirely blooded prior to the World Cup in New Zealand. Cian Healy, who contributes well around the park, still has majority to sense at scrum-time and Kidney will be gratified that Marcus Horan is right away behind to full fitness and form to yield options.