Full-back Glenn Metcalfe played well often looking to be Scotland's only attacking threat while being solid in defence. A great tap tackle by Peter Stringer almost certainly denied Metcalfe a try but that was one of the few positive moments in an afternoon where the Scottish backs looked slow and ponderous.
Glasgow hooker Gordon Bulloch was part of a pack that found it difficult to compete at set-piece. The lineout, usually such a strength, failed to function. Scott Murray was calling the lineout codes and did admit to making some poor calls but Bulloch's throwing-in was still below par.
Shaking his head, Bulloch said: "We were not good enough and it showed. It was one of those days when we just could not perform. I think the turning point came in the second half when we had a lot of sustained pressure on their line and came away with nothing. Then Ireland broke away and went more than 70 metres to score; the boys' heads went down after that. The point was we had a lot of possession up at their line and did not come away with anything," he said. "We had the possession, it was just the execution," he said, adding: "They read our moves very well. We will have to see if we hold on to our calls too long before we change them."
Jason White is thought likely to come into the squad for the trip to play France in Paris. The Glasgow man was outstanding for Scotland A in the 22-22 draw with Ireland A at Bridgehaugh.