6N: Scotland v Ireland: Scotland player ratings

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Blair Kinghorn – 4

It may be something in the Toulouse air which makes Kinghorn and Thomas Ramos look like world-class geniuses one week, then madcap liabilities the next. Charged down on a clearance when he swaggered back to deal with a nothing kick, which led to Ireland getting a penalty five metres out, spilled an early high one, and when Scotland had a sniff of a chance to get back in the game, he should have passed to Duhan for what seemed an easy charge in. [Hugo Keenan – 8]

 

 

Darcy Graham – 6

There is no end of bad luck to the pocket-dynamo. Made a booming tackle which led to a turnover with Scotland on the ropes, then he met Finn Russell's forehead. We wish him well in his recovery period. [Calvin Nash – 7]

Huw Jones – 7

I do bang on about how good he is, because he is that damn good. Didn't see many faults in his defensive game and, like he always seems to do, he produced potential game-changing moments with his ability to break through the tightest defence, but he needed other people to be on his level. [Robbie Henshaw – 8]

Tom Jordan – 6

It was tough enough for the inexperienced Warrior to start against one of the world's toughest midfields, then he had to replace the talismanic captain at stand-off. Like many of his team-mates, he defended manfully against the Irish onslaught, then seemed to brick it when asked to move into the primary playmaker role before finding his feet. [Bundee Aki – 8]

Duhan van der Merwe – 6

He'd have got a 7 if it wasn't for that yellow-card. (Which was a tad harsh. I have opinions on Ben O'Keefe which contain a lot of swearing.) One or two big fends and a metre or two made, finished his try well because he's one of the best, and should have had a second if the pass was released. [James Lowe – 7]

 

 

Finn Russell – 6

Is there any other frontline Scotland players want to get injured? Darge could possibly "Kirk Broadfoot"* himself, Grant Gilchrist could take up free-climbing. Wasn't given much chance to shine before smacking into Darcy, a result of Irish pressure and Scottish failures. [Sam Prendergast – 9]

  • Kirk Broadfoot is a former Scotland international football player who burnt his retina when taking scrambled eggs out of the microwave. It popped and hit him in the eye.

Ben White – 7

Exits nicely. Was one of the more calm under pressure. Took his try well. He's solid and consistent, perhaps a little conservative. I think he's very good at what he does, but is it right for this Scotland side? Am I too much of a George Horne-fan? His kicking game is fine and he does have the: "What the hell is he going to do now?" factor. We thrive on chaos. [Jamison Gibson-Park – 8]

 

 

Rory Sutherland – 7

Possibly a surprise starter over Schoeman, but did himself a lot of credit. Defended very well, not as big as "Big Schooey" but showed a bit more athleticism round the field and his scrumming technique seems smoother than the powerhouse of Schoo. (Says a 13 stone man whose only experience of a scrum was pretending to be a lock at a Petris Du Plessis masterclass in a pub.) [Andrew Porter – 8]

Dave Cherry – 7

The rise, the fall down the stairs, and the rise again because he took the lift, of Dave Cherry continues to gather steam. Arrows were good, he was in behind Darcy's smashing tackle to secure the turnover, and helped prevent one try – for a while at least – by twisting underneath an Irish ball-carrier when the maul was over the line. [Ronan Kelleher – 8/Dan Sheehan -8]

Zander Fagerson – 7

His work rate never ceases to amaze. Always willing to put his hand up and try to build momentum, has a knack of turning up to loose balls and securing them, and scrums were pretty even, but the Irish pack was just superior. [Finlay Bealham – 8]

Jonny Gray – 6

Seems to be still lacking in match fitness. Of course he's not going to be the consistent 30+ tackles with 100% completion monster he was. Injuries have seen us dip into the puddle of locks, but still seems a ‘Who's over 6ft 6ins and able to walk?’ option. [James Ryan – 8]

Grant Gilchrist – 7

Still the Big Man when it comes to set-pieces, he's carried with a bit more edge this Six Nations too but was still outshone. Played scrum-half a couple of times, has a decent pass on him. [Tadhg Beirne – 8]

Matt Fagerson – 5

This championship is just not happening for the MVP of the Glasgow Warriors' URC push, at this stage. Definitely seems to work better at blindside nowadays, and if marks were solely based on defensive effort he'd be a 7, but his contributions in attack are currently detrimental. Spilled a kick-off receipt after Kinghorn penalty which was a real energy sapper. [Peter O'Mahony – 8]

Rory Darge – 7

One of the peak ball-hunters, Scotland were about to go in at half-time being nilled until ‘The Mish 2.0’ put Doris on his arse and Scotland won the penalty. If Richie McCaw was watching, he'd have raised a glass and had a blast on his pipes for that. [Josh van der Flier – 8]

Jack Dempsey – 6

Another of the pack who put himself about in defence but was rarely allowed to show his ball-carrying abilities because we had sod all possession. Helped Cherry with a try-saving twist on the ball-carrier, although it was merely a plaster on a shotgun wound. [Caelan Doris – 8]

Replacements:

Ewan Ashman – 6

Another of the new breed front-rows who shows good mobility and all-round skills, but should he be practicing set-piece more? Arrows were decent but got pinged at a scrum for not using brake-foot, and the last thing you need to be doing is handing the ball to Ireland.

Pierre Schoeman – 6

One major carry near the end, and did take on some of the Zander workload when it came to short-range bustling, but scrum seemed to suffer in latter stages.

Will Hurd – 5

First involvement was to give away scrum penalty. It's hard work replacing Zander.

Sam Skinner – 5

Late call-up to the squad, the former bright spark who won POTM on his international debut versus Fiji seems to have had his wick fizzle out. (Probably because he plays for Edinburgh).

Gregor Brown – 6

Unable to reverse the tide against dominant Irish pack. Inexperienced even at URC level, a tough ask for the hybrid lock/flanker.

Jamie Ritchie – 5

Wasn't given much opportunity to be his breakdown, shit-housing nuisance. Largely ineffectual.

Jamie Dobie – 6

Preferred to George Horne in the 6-2 split due to his ability to cover wing, and had to come on early after the injury to Graham. Didn't let anyone down, particularly up against a constant threat like Lowe, but did little of note to gain ground.

Stafford McDowall – 6

Seemed to be covering 13 and 11 with Duhan in the bin and did that quite well. One good read and tackle off a set-piece, then moved into 12 with Jordan at stand-off where he had at least one good charge, passed reasonably but he's no Sione T. Not many are, to be fair!

 

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6N: Scotland v Ireland reaction: Gregor Townsend awaits Darcy Graham injury update

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