Six Nations 2022: Scotland going backwards & to say otherwise is delusional

Two years ago in Dublin, Ireland were put to the pin of their collar by the visiting Scots and won an extremely tight Six Nations game by a single score.

Last year, in Edinburgh, the game went to the wire again, Ireland landing the decisive blow in the 77th minute. Come full-time, only three points separated the sides.

On Saturday at the Aviva the thing was gone in 60 minutes, when Josh van der Flier scored Ireland's third try to widen the gap to 16 points once Jonny Sexton banged over the extras. The hosts were nowhere near their best, but they still cantered to a 21-point victory.

It's a reflection of where Scotland are that during a series of press conferences — that could legitimately be called cringe-making and truculent — coach Gregor Townsend and captain — for now — Stuart Hogg, spoke of it being «arguably our best performance of the championship» and «a fairly good performance that we're proud of».

The testiness of those Zooms came on the back of questioning about the rule-breaking behaviour of six Scotland players last week — and what it all said about the authority of, and the respect for, Townsend and his coaching staff.

Townsend and Hogg tried to wrestle the interviews to rugby — as if that was smooth terrain — but the chat repeatedly returned to Dublin and the players going rogue. «On to the next question, please…» said Townsend, forlornly. It was a tough watch.

Townsend said his players tried to show the supporters «where we are as a team and I felt we did that with the effort we put in».

That's how much Scotland have slipped — the players are being praised for effort. It was like a comment from the bleakest moments of the past 20 years when the boys tried their hearts out, but lost by a cricket score against a