Six Nations: ‘Shooting history passes through Scotland amid Irish ferocity’

Six minutes before the end of this recurring Scottish nightmare, Ireland led by 15 points, a fair reflection of the brutality they faced Scotland, and a reward for their relentless physical pressure on both sides of the ball.

The visitors hit a penalty kick in contact. Their hopes of chasing the Irish Devils out their door were dashed, but with a five-metre line, there was a chance of breaking through the crumbs. There’s still a shot at the four-try bonus point. A consolation in a brutally difficult game, but something.

They went through the stages, giving everything but getting nothing. Six players and more were exposed to the explosion. Repel at every turn. I felt them. And you suspected that this stress bout would end the way so many have over the years.

Tadhg Byrne went for the kill. Chance in a split second and he delivered. him again. Aviva saluted him as Scotland would have cursed him.

Scotland got off the ground and exploded. Completely spent. In arriving at the barn it was as if Byrne had also reached their soul. And in this act came the moment of clarity.

How can Scotland beat Ireland when Ireland have such a stubborn determination to be so good at this game?

Byrne’s retirement would help. The whole of Scotland will participate for a gift. He’s been an absolute giant in this matchup in the past and was so again on Saturday. He is 34 years old, but the bad news for Scotland is that he shows no sign of slowing down.

Byrne wasn’t man of the match – that was Cailan Doris, but it could have been Byrne or Stu McCloskey or any number of others – but he was hugely influential, a symbol of what Ireland have in abundance and what Scotland don’t have enough in strength, aggression and ruthlessness at every turn.

Grant Gilchrist and Max Williamson have made great transitions but you wonder what would have happened if Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown had been there.

Maybe nothing. Maybe something. Who knows? They’ll have an extra dog, for sure. But enough dogs to silence Irish Rottweilers? questionable.

There were too many weaknesses in the Scotland game, too many missed chances, too many balls put on the deck, too much weakness at crucial times in defence, and too much passivity in attack early on.

Was it too much to hope that they could once again march on after France’s greatness? maybe.