'Bonkers', 'Chaos', 'A comedy of errors': How BBC pundits summed up Scotland's Six Nations first half with Ireland

Scotland trailed Ireland 14-10 at the interval of their third match of this year's Guinness Six nations competition.
Keith Earls of Ireland competes for the ball with (L - R) Chris Harris and Stuart Hogg of Scotland leading to the first try scored by Robbie Henshaw (Not pictured) during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield on March 14, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Keith Earls of Ireland competes for the ball with (L - R) Chris Harris and Stuart Hogg of Scotland leading to the first try scored by Robbie Henshaw (Not pictured) during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield on March 14, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Keith Earls of Ireland competes for the ball with (L - R) Chris Harris and Stuart Hogg of Scotland leading to the first try scored by Robbie Henshaw (Not pictured) during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield on March 14, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The lead see-sawed between the sides after Ireland’s early lead thanks to the boot of Johnny Sexton but his opposite number Finn Russell responded for Scotland to give the home side a lead before the game ebbed and flowed back into the Irish favour before the end of the first half.

Errors were frequent with the half-time statistics reading 8-4 in Scotland’s favour in the unwanted handling errors category, while Gregor Townsend’s side also conceded 11 turnovers to Ireland’s six.

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BBC pundits Johnny Barclay and Martin Johnson struggled to sum up the opening 40 minutes – but enjoyed it nonetheless

"Chaos,” laughed World Cup winner Johnson, “I loved it. I like a bit of chaos – but it’s a difficult game to get your head round.”

"Bonkers,” said Barclay who added Scotland’s chin-assisted try “summed up the game, just bonkers – a comedy of errors”.

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