Scotland head coach Andy Robinson railed against a ”crucial” decision by referee Wayne Barnes which he believed cost Scotland a winning position in Sunday’s loss to France at Murrayfield.
The coach said a decision not to award the Scots a penalty by his countryman Barnes just before France’s second try by Maxime Medard represented a ”ten-point turnaround”.
Praising his men’s efforts, Robinson said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the intensity and endeavour shown by the team today. I can’t ask for anything more than the way they played it was inspirational.
”But the turning point of the game was when we were leading 17-13 Nick De Luca carries the ball in, (Aurelien) Rougerie clears out two of our men but falls on our side, and when Chris Cusiter tries to clear the ball he’s scragged and Rougerie kicks it out of his hand.
”Two offences that are pretty clear and a decision should have gone Scotland’s way but it doesn’t, and France go on to score seven points when it should have been a chance for three for us. It’s a ten-point turnaround.
“We know that decisions will go against us but when it’s a key moment of the game it’s the one that frustrates us the most.”
Robinson conceded, however, that other crucial spells had been the ten minutes before half-time when wing Rory Lamont suffered a suspected broken leg and Scotland failed to defend their 10-7 lead, and the last quarter when ”our phase play wasn’t good enough.”
”We put pace on the ball and found men in space,” he said. ”The young players did really well. Ross Ford had an immense game and Mike Blair was magnificent in that first 30 minutes.”
Robinson said he couldn’t ignore his record of only two wins in 13 Six Nations game with Scotland but said he retained full belief in the way the team were going.
”I can’t hide away from it, the stats are there. You go into each game knowing you can win or lose, and each time we go out to play I have the total belief that we have the ability to win.
”That belief’s strengthened today, as it was against Wales and the England game, but because of the way we played. It’s fine margins, but I can’t hide away from what people are saying and they’re right to bring it up.
”We have belief about what we’re about and we want to win. That’s why after games like this there’s a bit of anger that is felt, because we haven’t been able to achieve it.
”The anger is at one or two decisions but that’s life. It was an outstanding game and Scotland contributed a great deal to it, against the World Cup finalists. We’re not there yet, but I believe we’re close.”
Skipper Ford backed the head coach and his assistants, saying that they had the full confidence of the entire squad.
”It’s a frustrating day but we all have total belief in what the coaching team are instilling into us and the direction in which the team are going,” he said.
Scotland’s young introductions into the team continue to thrive with Stuart Hogg marking his first start with his first try, wing Lee Jones also getting his maiden score in the lively performance, and Duncan Weir, the 20-year-old Glasgow fly-half, having a solid 25 minutes on his international debut.
Hogg, who also sliced through impressively on a couple of other occasions, took only eight minutes to score in his first Scotland appearance at Murrayfield.
”I’m proud and thrilled to have scored my first try for my country but winning the game is what we’re about and I’d only be really happy if we’d done that,” said the 19-year-old.
Scotland suffered a series of injuries during the game, with Lamont’s suspected break likely to force him out for the remainder of the championship.
Blair also went off with a dead leg, Greig Laidlaw after a head knock while David Denton also came off after less than a hour.
Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Wire