I must admit I did cheer when Ronan O’Gara broke through the Scottish defence with a superb hand off of Ross Ford with the Irish player looking very angry indeed as he crossed the line and looked to make his way under the posts.
My goodness he did look like an angry terrapin snapping his way over, which did raise a smile, but at least he was angry and looking to impose himself on the game. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for many of his teammates who wilted somewhat as Scotland applied the pressure late in the second half.
Earlier tries by Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan and O’Gara’s defiant effort had put Ireland in a comfortable 21 – 9 lead but once again the wheels came of and Ireland self destructed as Scotland dragged the score back to 18 – 21 with the Scots looking the more likely to win in the dying minutes.
Kidney’s strategy of one last hurrah for the Golden Generation looks to be backfiring as many of the stars of the past failed to find the stamina and the skills to impose themselves in this game as had happened in the previous two . . .
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