No self pity as Scottish captain eyes Irish scalp

SKIPPER Gordon Bulloch insists Scotland cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves after the defeat by France in Paris as they prepare for Saturday’s meeting with Ireland.

There was a tumultuous reaction to their opening RBS Six Nations Championship game with angry Scotland coach Matt Williams claiming a poor decision by Irish touch judge Simon McDowell had robbed his team of an Ally Hogg try.

The Scotland boss also criticised a crucial call by Welsh referee Nigel Williams to sin-bin Jon Petrie with eight minutes to go, at which stage the visitors were desperately clinging on to their 9-6 lead.

The Scots capitulated in the final minutes and left the field nursing a sense of injustice but Bulloch urged his men to focus now on the visit of Ireland to Murrayfield on Saturday.

“Driving home on Sunday I realised what a missed chance it was for us. There are not many Scottish players who have been to Paris and come away with a win and as the years go by I feel that it was a huge opportunity for myself and the players around me.

“We have had a look at a few of those controversial decisions but I think that it’s important now to concentrate on a very tough game against Ireland. If we moan to each other and the media and get bogged down in it all, then our performance will suffer.

“What’s happened has happened, the result stands and there is nothing we can do about it. We’ve got to go on and prepare accordingly for Ireland because it is going to be a tough game for our boys.”

Scotland forward Stuart Grimes reiterated his captain’s desire to shrug off the disappointment of the Paris defeat.

“We’ve got to move on as quickly as possible because if we dwell on the result too long it will drag us down a little it,” he said.

“The overall feeling is that we competed very well and put them under massive pressure.

“That is a positive for us because the French are awesome at home and few sides go over there and win.”

Bulloch admitted that the Scots had contributed to their own downfall in Paris with some carelessness but he feels it was another performance which proved the team’s steady improvement.

“We have to hold our hands up to some mistakes. We’ve got systems and if we stay inside them then it gives us a chance of cutting down our mistakes,” said Bulloch.

“On the odd occasion we strayed outside, we gave them chances and they took them.

“Obviously we haven’t had our troubles to seek in the last 12 months with regards results but I think we have seen a steady increase in performance,” said Bulloch.

“We’ve never had that 80-minute performance but in Matt’s time in charge that’s the closest we have come.

“We have got three home games in a row now and it’s a great opportunity for us.

“We are eager to get back on the park and hopefully against the Irish we can take the next step and get a win.”