TOWNSEND: OUR BID RAN OUT OF GAS

GREGOR TOWNSEND admitted Scotland's Six Nations campaign ran out of gas against Ireland.

- GORDON PARKS

But the Dark Blues boss insisted defeat won't be allowed to derail the strides his side have made this season.

It was an eighth straight defeat by a side that will now land the Grand Slam if they win against England in Dublin on Saturday.

A Huw Jones try put the Scots ahead early on before a second-half collapse ended hopes of a first Triple Crown success since 1990.

Scotland close their campaign against Italy on Saturday with an outside.

chance of finishing second before planning for the World Cup later this year with a group clash against the Irish in October.

Townsend said: "It was very disappointing in the second half. In the first half we were on it and the players were a bit deflated wer weren't leading at half-time.