Scotland coach Steve Clarke refused to turn on his players after their 3-0 Nations League thrashing.
The Republic swept the Scots aside at the Aviva Stadium to deliver a badly needed first win in the competition.
New Rangers defender John Souttar was dropped for Grant Hanley with Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay coming in for Stuart Armstrong after last week's win over Armenia.
Clarke said: “There were a couple of changes that obviously didn't work.
“But I don't think it was about changes and personnel today. It was more about, I don't know, more about something else.
“I need to go away and have a good think about it and decide and hopefully come up with a team that goes to Yerevan this week that gets us three points.
“But I don't think today was about the team, or one individual in and out. It was so damning I don't think it was about that."
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