Ireland coach Declan Kidney refused to blame debutant fly-half Paddy Jackson for his missed kicks against Scotland.
The visitors failed to convert large portions of territory and possession and were surprise losers in Sunday's contest, with Greig Laidlaw kicking four penalties for Scotland to seal Ireland's second defeat of the Championship.
"It is about taking your opportunities. We created several for ourselves but didn't manage to convert them enough to be ahead of Scotland's penalty count," said Kidney.
"I think it is too easy to put it down to that (Jackson's misses). Paddy's general play was good. He helped us get a few line breaks and his kicks down the line put us in a good field position. He had the courage to go for those, which is a good thing.
"His place kicking didn't go the way he would have liked but some days go like that. It's too easy to point the finger at that. Overall his general play was good.
"We created a lot of try-scoring opportunities and if we had put those away...
"Obviously their place-kicking went to a far higher stat than ours and that is something we regret, but we did do a lot of positive work as well in attack. We just didn't manage to finish it off.
"There always is [criticism]. But it is just about getting ready for the next game in two weeks' time (against France).
"That is what the role is; whether you win, lose or draw it doesn't matter - it is all about getting ready for the next game.
"We created opportunities today. I will take a good look at myself and get the others around me to critique everything that I'm doing, as well as them too, because nobody is immune from this."
Comments
Irishzimbabwean says...
99call and carpelone - sadly I think Chris Henry wrecked his knee playing for Ulster. Out until at least April. Yet another player whose career has been negatively affected by Kidney. Blindside is the position which will give O'Brien most opportunity to do what he is best at which is carry and tackle. But since Kidney has to pick O'Mahoney at blindside, then Henry gets dropped and O'Brien played out of position. Two games to go for Kidney.
Posted 15:30 26th February 2013
KubilaKhan says...
Can we please just bench Earls? He ruined to perfectly good scoring opportunities!!! Jackson is young and panicky so thats understandable. Earls was the villian of the day with selfish play. Bench him!
Posted 02:53 26th February 2013
Fitzy says...
Whether you win,lose or draw it doesn't matter?........now there's an interesting take on things
Posted 01:55 26th February 2013
PatrickH says...
@ 99call,
When O'Brien was ERC player of the year in 2011 he played most of his games at 8 and was a monster!
The IRFU have decided that with Ferris and Heaslip O'Brien needed to be molded into a 7. He's becoming a fine one don't get me wrong. Cut him loose at 8 in a green jersey however and you'll get a sharp reminder what a player he really is.
Posted 22:15 25th February 2013
PatrickH says...
@ boksmashoffice,
"If you do not have a solid set piece you will lose. It is beyond me why Ire lost this match." Really?
Other than that I think your post is spot on the money as well.
The reason the knives are out for Deccie is that the only option we had as a replacement 10 on Sunday came on and tried to kick the ball 10 meters across the pitch.
It's been up to Kidney since he took over to look after the future as well as the present. He's not doing his job.
O'Shea would take the job in a heart beat, and be very good at it!
Popey as assistant!
Posted 22:00 25th February 2013
PatrickH says...
Big French monsters in the 2nd row might eat Henderson though.. Maybe give him a shot at 6.
Posted 21:53 25th February 2013
PatrickH says...
@ jmckenna92.
Spot on! Stick P Marshall in beside Jackson and L Marshall. Madigan on the bench with Redden. Henderson, Kilcoyne & O'Donnell to start instead of O'Callaghan, Court & Heaslip (move O'Brien to 8). Send them out with nothing to lose and valuble experience to gain. Keatley should be brought into the squad as well.
Posted 21:51 25th February 2013
bcrugby913 says...
I want Paul Marshall desperately to get playing time at Ulster so he can finally break into the Ireland starting side; much faster than Murray and if P. Jackson is our next choice 10, wouldn't be a terrible idea to have him paired with one of his clubmates at 9. Also Marshall is just plain better; Kidney needs to get away from his love affair with Munster players
Posted 20:36 25th February 2013
99call says...
melkdave I have always been a fan of Heaslip but even I have to admit hes having a bit of a mare this year, but people have to get off this OBrien at No. 8 thing, its been tried at Leinster a couple of times and it was a resounding failure, hes was totaly ineffective and they lost a lineout threat so just because he can carry doesnt make him a no.8.
Dont get me wrong I think it would do Heaslip good to be dropped it might give him a bit of perspective but we need to play a no.8 not just move a flanker.
The thing to do is put Henry in at 8 as up until the last year or so thats were hes played, he was our starter at Ulster until Wannenberg came in and since then hes played at 7 with Wilson and Williams sharing the 8 shirt so a back row of Henderson, SOB and Henry at 8 would be pretty good in my view
Posted 15:22 25th February 2013
melkdave says...
@IrishZimbabwean
Like your team probily the best Ireland have atm ,but i would play C.Henry at 7 and move SOB to 8 and drop Heslip.as usual he is just not delivering,a good club player but not a true international imo,.How his captain is beyond me ,he woulsnt even be in my squad.Might be an idea to call up W.Falone as well,as he looks in form and plays 7 as cover for Henry.,also draft Maddigan into the starting 23 on the bench as FH.center cover.,and P.Marshall as SH cover.
Posted 14:31 25th February 2013
99call says...
Firstly irishzimbabwean Yeah I think thats the best team we can put out at the moment so you're spot on there
Secondly anyone who blames Jackson for this loss obviously has no idea about rugby, he did as well as could be expected in his first 6n test and yes his kicking let him down but had the lineout and scrum not been a farce and had we finished off the trys that he was involved in setting up for us then his kicking wouldnt have been an issue as we'd have been out of sight, had the passes gone to Gilroy and BOD they would have both been under the post so easy kicks for Jacko which builds his confidence and the games a walk over
If I was a scotsman Id be buying as many lottery tickets as I could afford as you've got to ride this luck as long as you can
Posted 13:07 25th February 2013
sextons_on_fire says...
Look at Kidney's shiny head!!! hahahahahahaha BOOM
Posted 12:06 25th February 2013
carpelone says...
Marshall did in one game what D'Arcy did in the last 5 years.
Would rather give a choice to Henry at 7.
Just please tell ROG to focus on darts and pub rugby.
Posted 12:01 25th February 2013
ronanmeagher says...
@deprop - I think you will find Gert Smal is the forwards coach (WC winning forwards coach at that). Foley is defensive coach.
Posted 11:31 25th February 2013
apexpred says...
We don't blame Jackson Declan, we blame YOU!
Posted 11:11 25th February 2013
irishzimbabwean says...
Suggested team for France - 1. Court (only because Mas will destroy Kilcoyne in the scrum - Court was not good yesterday but is a better scrummager than Kilcoyne). 2. Best. 3. Ross. 4. Tuohy (should never have been dropped in the first place after his performances on the NZ tour). 5 Ryan. 6. Henderson. 7. O'Brien. 8. Heaslip. 9. Reddan. 10. Jackson. 11. Fitzgerald. 12. Marshall. 13. BOD. 14. Gilroy. 15. Kearney. (Madigan on the bench with Paul Marshall the other half back sub).
Posted 10:49 25th February 2013
99call says...
You cant blame Jackson for this loss, he actually got the backline moving and we created some good line breaks but we just didnt finish them so thats not his fault, i think we had so much possession we thought the Scots would die off in the last 20 and we'd walk it but fair play to them they kept at it
As for the youngsters Marsahll had a great debut and I think Jackson did pretty well in getting the backline going so I wouldnt critise those guys.
We as a nation have to accept that we're going into a transition period and unfortunatley that period doesnt include players in the mid 20s as we dont seem to have enough good players in that age range so instead its the 21 year olds that we're throwing everything onto so if thats the way its going to be then we must accept a few losses as these guys get more experience.
I wouldnt say its all doom and gloom though as if Sexton had been playing we'd have won that game in the first half and thats not taking anything away from Jackson, I think we saw the next inside centre for the foreseeable future as Marshall did very well but we will need to find a 13 as I dont see BOD going on past this year.
Posted 09:12 25th February 2013
pog_mahone says...
just go away...
Posted 08:55 25th February 2013
deprop says...
Thinking about this painful result logically, Kidney put a team on the park that had 77% possession and 71% territory. From those stats it seems he picked the right team or, at least, a team good enough to dominate Scotland. That is, in the final analysis, all he can do. The fault in this match lay primarily with the forwards who were unable to convert good line-out chances into points at crucial times and who gave away stupid penalties in the wrong parts of the pitch. Their scrummaging was, once again, weak. Responsibility for the forwards lies with Foley - not Kidney. Yes, Kidney picked Foley and is ultimately responsible but blame where blame is due. I'm not exhonorating the backs. Earls showed he has no head for this level and Murray is far too slow and too predictable to worry an opposition back row. Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney should not have been on the park as neither are playing to anything like international standard and a Six Nations tournament is not the place to wait for them to come good. As for the captaincy, Kidney should never have taken if off O'Driscoll. It was not the right time and he gave it to the wrong player. Donncha Ryan looked like the only leader on the pitch and that mostly by example. At fly half, Madigan has a lot more big game experience than Jackson and has played at a consistently higher level. For me he is the natural back-up to Sexton, a role he fills at Leinster. Much like the England game, Ireland come away losing to a team they are far better than. Frustrating but with so much possession and territiry it is the players who are to blame - not the coach.
Posted 07:04 25th February 2013
bothhands says...
First half possession was outrageous, at one point 89%. Several penalties kicked into the corner and all the crucial lineouts lost. Against 7 men Ireland failed to score any points, which is pathetic. Scotland repeatedly tackled ball carriers aggressively often behind the gainline, many many big hits. Healy was sorely missed, as he does punch holes around the fringes, he and O'Brien are essential to Ireland crossing gain line. Marshall looked good, ran great lines and tackled well. The Scottish locks are a class apart, Ireland sorely lacking at 4 and 5, but who else to play there? Best was intimidated too easily at throw-in, but was otherwise excellent. Heaslip was unseen on the pitch. Why was there no tap penalty move for the last roll of the dice in extra time?
Posted 01:18 25th February 2013