Retired front-row forwards will be happy in the knowledge that the strange world of the front row can still have such a profound effect on the game of rugby at international level. Saturday's events were bizarre: the Irish pack had the Scots in trouble right from the start of the game. Our penalty try came from this pressure and we should certainly have scored a second midway through the second half, which would have won the game.

Suddenly, the referee penalised Paul Wallace near the Scottish line, to be followed by another penalty on the next Irish put-in in front of our posts.

Curiously, the referee stood on the Irish tight-head side of the scrum. Normally the ref stands on the loose-head side where the scrum half is putting the ball in and will only go around to the other side if trouble starts.

Having positioned himself, he warned Paul about something (his bind?) before the scrum went down and proceeded to penalise him before the ball was even put in. Scotland took the three points, closed the game down, we panicked, game over.

I remember some South African complaints about Paul's scrummaging during the Lions tour on which he was such a central figure. The referee, Mr Watson, just happens to be a South African. I do not believe Paul Wallace suddenly changed his scrummaging technique midway through the second half simply because Scotland changed their loose head.

Having said all that, Ireland should never have lost this game. Scotland will not win another game in this championship with that level of performance. I would question the decision not to kick at goal when we were leading 16-11, especially when Paul Wallace went off for treatment. An eight-point lead at that stage would have been extremely difficult for the Scots to overcome.

And furthermore, we had not converted our superior scrummaging into points in the first half without the assistance of the referee and that is something you should never count on.

It should not have taken all those scrums that led up to the penalty try. A more efficient, clinical side would have scored on that occasion, and from the series of attacking scrums in the second half. Indeed, it was our failure to score from the numerous chances that really cost us the game. We did make a lot of unforced errors, but the Scots more than made up for these with their own mistakes. But when it came to chances, the visitors (apart from missed place-kicks early on) got a far higher return than the home side.

The Scottish forwards were totally outplayed. It is rare to see a line-out so decisively beaten and the organisation of the Irish side in this area was excellent. I thought that both Irish second rows were outstanding. The only area up front where Scotland had a slight edge was in the speed of some of their ruck ball.

Armstrong, Chalmers and, in particular, Townsend and Tait, through their experience and patience, had a greater positive impact on a limited supply than their Irish counterparts.

I was disappointed that we did not use our full back and wingers, in particular Richard Wallace, more in attack. All three are attacking, rather than defensive players and, if you pick them, you must use them. We should not forget that in a game in which we made so many unforced errors, and lost to a poor Scottish team playing badly, that there were some very good passages of Irish play and that we created so many chances. That last five yards is beginning to become a great distance for this team.

It is almost becoming a case of trying too hard and not getting the breaks or, worse still, not being calm enough to see them when they come. I hope the selectors don't panic and make widespread changes. We have to have a settled squad, a style of play that suits the squad and work to produce the best performances.

A lot of people at Lansdowne Road remarked on the fact that only seven players in the starting line-ups play their club rugby in either Ireland (three) or Scotland (four).

From the Irish point of view it was interesting to hear Brian Ashton state at the press conference that he had certain views on the Irish club structure. He said it was not the place to elaborate but, in view of what he had to say on the team's performance, it is surely time to call a spade a spade.

(In an interview with Sean Kilfeather)