Scotland try hero Sean Maitland on why he wasn’t thinking about a hat-trick against France

Double tryscorer Sean Maitland said there were no thoughts about a hat-trick after bagging his brace early in the second half of yesterday’s 28-17 win over France at BT Murrayfield.

Sean Maitland scores his and Scotland's second try in the 28-17 win over France at BT Murrayfield. Picture: Gary Hutchison/SNS

The wing took his Test try tally to 15 in 48 caps but settled for just the two.

The 31-year-old hadn’t scored since the win over Samoa at the World Cup in Japan and it was his first at BT Murrayfield since the summer Test victory over France in August.

“No I was just happy to score the two. As a winger I was on a bit of a drought. I’ll take them,” said Maitland, who scored twice for the first time in his Test career.

“There were still opportunities for us there to get the bonus point but I think it’s just good that we managed to get the win,” he added.

“Obviously there’s been a bit of pressure on us.”

The victory over 14-man France was Scotland’s first major Six Nations scalp for two years, outside wins over Italy, and Maitland was asked if a performance like that was a long time in 
coming.

“Yes and no. There’s still lots to improve on, let’s be honest,” he said. “It’s just that last five per cent, not converting our line breaks, which is a bit disappointing.

“We had a look at the tape after [the 17-0 win in Rome over] Italy and I’m sure we will again. But a win’s a win.”

Maitland took the glory 
of finishing off two fine moves, with sub hooker 
Stuart McInally also grabbing a breakaway effort, but the Kiwi-born wing was keen to acknowledge the efforts of others.

“I thought our half-backs [scrum-half Ali Price and stand-off Adam Hastings] controlled the game really nicely,” he said.

In contrast, France lost their playmaker Romain Ntamack to an early head injury but had a useful replacement in the form of starlet Matthieu Jalibert.

“I wasn’t sure who came on when Ntamack went off. He’s at Bordeaux I believe, and he looked a sharp kid.”

While Maitland profited
from good attacking, he said that sound defence had played as much of a part as France continued to cut loose despite being a man down following Mohamed
Haouas’s red card for a punch on Jamie Ritchie moments before Maitland’s first try.

“Our new defence coach [Welshman Steve Tandy] has been great,” said the wing. “It’s been just about doing the simple things well, simplifying it.

“Usually Monday is our attack day and Tuesday is our defence day. That’s the way it’s been for however
long I’ve been involved. There’s been a bit of a shift in us making those dominant hits and slow the opposition’s ball.”

Scotland now focus on a closing match against Wales in Cardiff this Saturday (2.15pm kick-off).

“It’s a tough place where we haven’t won in however
many years [since 2002] 
so we know we’ll need to show up a lot better,” said Maitland.