Tokyo (AFP)

They fell from above. After a minute of the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, the Scots, still too inconsistent, were eliminated in Japan in the group stage, for the second time in their history.

The historic defeat against the host country (28-21), Sunday, will have finally been a concentrate of this XV of Scotland, capable of the best as the worst: because it takes courage, and a certain dose of talent, to register 21 points to these Brave Blossoms, brought to Yokohama by a jubilant people. Except that, again, the Scots lost, and missed their start of match (21-7 at halftime). As usual.

. Too many individual mistakes

"If I'm brutally honest, we were beaten by a team that was better than us, maybe our expectations are too high, we'll have to go back to the blackboard to learn, and want to learn," admitted the back Stuart Hogg.

Defense more than generous, winger Darcy Graham in the lead, repeated fouls, bad choices ... all the panoply has passed. Difficult, under these conditions, to get by for a team, even the elite.

But is this Scottish team still part of the world rugby elite? Fifth of the last tournament of the six nations, outclassed twice by a French XV well pale (27-10 in February, 32-3 in August), that of the Thistle lack of regularity.

Worse, it does not really seem to have progressed under Gregor Townsend era, arrived in 2017.

However, unlike his predecessors, the former coach of Glasgow Warriors can rely on an effective pack and exceptional players such as the rear Stuart Hogg or the hinge formed by Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell.

. Little progress

"The truth is that if we do not progress, the situation will be repeated, I do not think we really recorded what happened again, when it's going to happen, it'll eat us for a long, long moment, it's going to hurt, "Hogg said.

The Scots continue to drag their lack of chronic power, their incorrigible lack of concentration and an unfortunate tendency to start their matches badly.

Result, at this World Cup, Scotland was crushed by Ireland and his front ultradominators (27-3) before being choked by the Japanese speed.

The media, they seem resigned: "The end of the world" title The Herald, "It's over" for The Scotsman while the Daily Mail, in its Scottish version, evokes a "Japanese triumph born of a tragedy". The Daily Record is making a splash on Scotland's success ... in 6-0 in front of San Marino.

. Townsend under pressure

"The only thing that matters to judge a coach is victory, which means that Gregor is under pressure, but he should be fine, which means that the next tournament is very important for him: Gregor needs victories, "said former Scotland captain Andy Nicol on the BBC.

Arrived in 2017, promising to practice "the fastest rugby in the world", Townsend won only 50% of his 22 games on the Scottish bench (one draw, ten losses).

"It's only a question of victory, I prefer to play badly and win than to make technical efforts to lose," said ex-pillar Peter Wright.

"The only way to win on the outside is to stop being nice boys and to be meaner in front of you, you have to be aggressive, you have to be mean," he added.

But is this Scotland team only capable of showing fangs, other than by threatening World Rugby with a lawsuit if the Yokohama match did not take place? Answer in February, with the start of the Six Nations Tournament, in Ireland.

© 2019 AFP