There's no getting away from the fact that this was a step back for Scotland.

Maybe they can recover the ground when they take on Italy next weekend, but it was infuriating to see this performance after all the promise of their earlier games. Sure, those produced defeats, but at least you felt they were getting better with every game.

Not at this match. They started well enough and played eager, high-tempo rugby, but after conceding a try just before the break they lost all momentum after it. It was horribly flat at times and, to make matters worse, Ireland just got better and better.

You have to admire this Irish team. Some people thought defeat by Wales and the draw with France would have robbed them of any ambition, but they looked as hungry as ever. And just as effective in the danger zone; for their conversion of chances was outstanding. They were dynamic and dangerous throughout, while Scotland faded near the end.

I particularly admired the way Ireland dealt with the loss of three top players. If this was an injury crisis then maybe we should have one. Eoin Reddan, Donnacha Ryan and Peter O'Mahony all had big boots to fill, but they did their jobs superbly. Oh, to have strength in depth like that.

I know it must be hugely frustrating for Andy Robinson to watch his players put in a performance like this. Little by little, Scotland seemed to have added layers to their game over recent weeks, but a few of those peeled away in what was, unquestionably, their worst performance of the tournament.

You can cope with the fact that the aggressive Irish defence is going to force errors, but many of the Scottish mistakes were of their own making. I think there were three forward passes, which is an absurd number at this level, and I don't think any of them were made under particular pressure. These are the things that players practise endlessly, but it is maddening when they cannot exercise them when it matters most.

The Scottish kicking was also pretty poor. Come to think of it, the Irish kicking wasn't a lot better, but I suppose neither fly-half had been picked for that aspect of his game. Scotland ended up trying too often to play their way out of defence, when the aerial route looked the far better and safer option.

The confidence of the players must be pretty low right now. The effort they have put into this RBS 6 Nations campaign has been phenomenal, and they have played some superb rugby, so it must put a real dampener on the spirits to get to this point with no reward. Even observers from other countries have been saying that Scotland deserve more than they have taken from the championship to date.

It also casts a cloud over any side when a player suffers the kind of injury that knocked young Lee Jones out of the match. Thankfully, it seems that the sickening head knock is not as bad as first feared, but no-one likes to see a player end the day in hospital. Matt Scott got his first cap as a result – the first of many I suspect – but he would have preferred it to come in happier circumstances, I am sure

It's hard to see what Scotland should change ahead of the match in Italy. They will be desperate for the win that will salvage something from their season, and maybe that desperation will be the most important factor in their approach. But they should not forget all the good things they have done over the past few games. Yesterday's result was massively disappointing, but it came from a few players dipping too many notches below their best rather than any fundamental failure of the system.

They should also look to the positives. Dave Denton has emerged as one of the stars of European rugby and he did nothing to damage that burgeoning reputation. Denton has the dynamism that is essential to the way Scotland want to play. Given our resources, it is the only way we should try to play the game.

There was also another massive performance from Richie Gray, and his try was a thing of beauty. All in all, the forwards played superbly in the loose, and drew the best from the Irish defence in order to counter them. Had Ireland dipped a little in that regard I'm sure that Scotland would have done more with the possession that came their way.

But if Scotland are going to play at pace they have to get precision in their game as well. They will also have to sharpen up in contact, but most of their work in that area was acceptable.

But now they head for Rome, and a wooden spoon decider – an all-too-familiar ending to a Scottish Six Nations campaign.