Triple Crown statistics paint grim picture for Scotland side who swapped optimism for rancour

As Ireland celebrated their victory over Scotland on Saturday night, it was startling to note it was the sixth time they had won the Triple Crown in the Six Nations era, moving them clear of Wales and England who have collected five apiece.

Scotland, by contrast, have not won any since the championship was expanded in 2000. You have to go back to the 1990 Grand Slam for their last Triple Crown, back in the amateur days when no trophy existed. It remains a mythical honour for the Scots, an intangible award beyond their grasp.

Sifting through the wreckage of another doomed campaign, it's hard to find too many positives. Scotland appear to have gone backwards. When they closed out the 2021 championship with a coruscating win over France in Paris, a warm feeling surrounded the national team, a sense of optimism that this group of players could make good on their talent and potential.

One year on and there's only rancour. When the BBC broke the story on Friday that six players had gone on an unauthorised night out in Edinburgh on their return from Rome the previous weekend it set in motion a chain of events which could cost Stuart Hogg the captaincy and leave head coach Gregor Townsend exposed.

The pair’s failure to address the matter in a cogent and cool-headed way has exacerbated the situation. Refusing to explain what happened or show any genuine contrition simply created a vacuum to be filled with speculation and criticism.

No-one thinks they should be hanged, drawn and quartered but a little humility wouldn't go amiss.

From the outside looking in, it's hard to understand why Scotland felt the need to rush away from Rome after beating Italy 33-22 on Saturday, March 12.

There was talk of the Sunday being a "recovery day"