Jesus, what is going on?
28 minutes, three tries leaked, one dream hanging perilously by a thread.
Before Ireland’s Six Nations opener in Scotland, words like ‘grand slam’ were doing the rounds on RTÉ. It wasn’t exactly outrageous stuff, the Irish would think themselves capable of beating anyone in the northern hemisphere on their day and, just a few short months after toppling the All Blacks and Australia and the like, confidence was soaring through Joe Schmidt’s men.
Cue: ambush.
Scotland waited silently and patiently in the long grass of Murrayfield and hit the Irish for all their worth in the opening game of the Six Nations.
After 8 minutes, the hosts were ahead, in over the line with Rob Kearney forced to watch on.
After 20 minutes, they doubled their lead, with Rob Kearney sold by a dummy.
Before the half hour mark, a simple lineout undid the green jerseys as the Scots walked in for a third try.
Stuart Hogg went in twice and it looked far too easy. Because, basically, it was. And Ireland’s full back Rob Kearney felt the full brunt force of a frustrated public who have been anticipating the start of the Six Nations for a while now.
They didn’t hold back in their criticisms.
Disgraceful defending from Ireland. Kearney like a headless chicken. 😈
— carmel o connor (@carmeloconnor1) February 4, 2017
Classic defending from Rob Kearney. Wonder how Gav Cummiskey will filter this out
— Lalor (@littlebnapa) February 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/flickybig/status/827892109776666625
Kearney a liability
— Michael Connaughton (@michaelc2443) February 4, 2017
Absolutely scarlet for Kearney there
— Stephen Keegan (@MacAodhagainS) February 4, 2017
Kearney being schooled by Hogg. Not good#scovire
— John Cunningham (@johncupros) February 4, 2017
Kearney at 15 🙄 Play Zebo at 15 where he's best 😤 #6Nations
— Tomás Hewitt (@HewyT24) February 4, 2017
What is Kearney doing there? Completes leaves Hogg with a free run by not trusting Earls to make his tackle… #SCOvIRE
— Jodi (@JodusDickerty) February 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/Culb_P/status/827896875709825026
https://twitter.com/monaghanpenguin/status/827896826883928065
Kearney has to go here at halftime. Outrageous he's still there #SCOvIRE
— Denis O'Brien (@BlueDenis87) February 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/MegatronCox/status/827896092335493120
At half time, the scores read Scotland 21 Ireland 8. A long way back for Schmidt’s men and for Kearney’s redemption.
Ireland have done it before. And so has Kearney.
Not on this occasion though. A second half fightback cut the deficit but it was too little too late. Scotland win 27-22. It’s a long way back from this one.
