Laidlaw Keeps His Cool to Ensure Scotland Stay High on the Hogg

A PUMPED up Scotland recorded only their second opening day win in the modern day Six Nations to underline their Championship potential this year.

- Brendan Gallagher

Superb at the start and again at the death, the Scots had to absorb a spirited comeback by Ireland but were excellent value for their win and now travel to Paris with their tails up.

Experienced Scotland watchers wondered if some of the pre-tournament hype wasn’t a little over-optimistic given they have often flattered to deceive at the start of the Six Nations but Vern Cotter’s side quickly allayed those fears with a wonderfully clinical and inventive first half.

Despite struggling badly at scrum-time and losing the territorial battle in the first half, Scotland struck with precision and great skill to score three tries and go down the tunnel 21-8 to the good.

Stuart Hogg was on fire from the off and, when you have a player posing the threat he can out wide, defences get nervous and distracted which is what happened with Ireland.

Even before the kick-off Hogg would probably be most people’s first name on the team sheet for the Lions and he lost no time in underlining his current pre-eminence as Scotland understandably got him involved as often as possible.

Scotland’s first try came very much against the run of play after early Ireland pressure when Scotland finally managed to put together a sustained attack. The key moment came as they moved the ball left to right and Finn Russell flung out a trademark long miss-pass off his left hand.

It wasn’t Russell’s best or most accurate pass but Hogg read the bouncing ball beautifully to collect and turn on a sixpence to leave the Ireland defenders clutching at shadows.