THE verdict was unequivocal.
"It was a massive missed opportunity," said Stuart Hogg, who scored a try but saw his side slip to another RBS 6 Nations defeat at Murrayfield.
Hogg's disappointment was marked with flashes of anger. He was critical of the referee, Glen Jackson, for his decision to disallow a Mark Bennett try after Sam Hidalgo-Clyne had been felled by a high tackle and the ball was ruled to have ran forward.
He was also less than pleased by the ref's decision to blow for full time immediately after Jon Welsh's try in the 79th minute.
Hogg said he looked at the stadium clock and saw seconds left, adding: "
I am not saying we would have scored but at least an opportunity to have a crack would have been good."
But he was angry over the decision not to award the Bennett try.
"He has given a penalty five metres from the line, another couple of steps and he would have scored. How he can give a penalty and not a penalty try I don't know."
Hogg, who scored a beautiful first-half try, said: "I am massively disappointed, two weeks in a row we have been in complete control of the game but came in with a defeat. It is a massive missed opportunity, we were in it right to the every end, so it is bitter to come away with a defeat."
Of his try, he said: "No consolation. It is good to get over but it is a team performance. I would prefer to have a shocker but win the game."
His disappointment was obvious but he retained optimism for the rest of the campaign.
"We are moving in the right direction. The Italians are coming and hopefully we will absolutely batter them."
Of the positives from yet another defeat, he said: "The game plan was spot on again. We are getting it in the right areas where in times gone by we have not been getting there."
The Italy match takes on a heavy significance with England at Twickenham, and Ireland at Murrayfield to follow.
"Just getting a a win on the board would be important - we deserve one," said Hogg.
Bennett was similarly disappointed by a narrow defeat on a day when Scotland could have won.
"It's really frustrating. You can see that from the reaction of the players. We are starting to play the way we want to. We are really attacking teams and putting them under pressure. We think we are going in the right direction but we have just not quite got the finished product yet," he said.
He said he believed he had scored a try but added that he was encouraged by his own performance in a hugely physical match.
"Personally, I am happy with the way I played in certain aspects of the game," he said. "It was a very hard direct game in the first half and I found it hard to get involved. But I got more touches in the second half."
One could have won the match for his side but for a contentious decision.
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