But more than a week was at an end. The try seemed to bring tangible closure to a bleak period of the Cohen family's life. 'Me doing well on the pitch gives my family a lift. It's a relief that it is all over,' he said. 'Obviously we were very disappointed with the verdict. But you have got to get on with life, as hard as that sounds. 'It's a load off my shoulders. It is time to start living my life a little bit. Dad wanted me to play rugby. He started me at the age of 12. He supported me in everything. We always thought about me one day playing for England. Now I just have to keep on going.' A few missed kicks at goal are utterly trivial by comparison. Hodge would not dispute that, although his dejection at the final whistle was prolonged, according to team-mates. 'He's very down but it is not his fault,' said Gregor Townsend. He had tried to lift Hodge throughout the 80 minutes and said: 'We have all been there.' There was no hiding Hodge's steady erosion in confidence. Bryan Redpath, his scrum half, increasingly chose to take the ball on himself, expecting a selectorial change in midfield any time during the second half.
