Head coach Andy Robinson has called on his Scotland side to retain their belief as they look to put their RBS 6 Nations campaign back on track after suffering more disappointment in their defeat to Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Having been punished for a lack of composure at key moments in their opening reverse against England, Scotland were again their own worst enemies as a calamitous start to the second half in Cardiff proved crucial in their 27-13 loss.
"For me it's about the team being able to keep its belief in what it's trying to do. I think that throughout there is still belief there. It was shown in that 20 minutes when we went down to 27-6 but you've got to take your chances," said Robinson.
"Just before half-time, there was a clear-cut opportunity for us and we just knocked it on getting close to the line and that's what games can change on.
"We must not get away from the fact the effort that's been shown there was very, very good. It's important we build on that and perform that way every time."
Robinson also confirmed that defence coach Graham Steadman is set to leave the Scotland set-up at the end of the season after four years.
Ospreys coaching director Scott Johnson will take up the role of senior assistant prior to the summer tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa.
Robinson said: "Graham is seeing out his contract. He hasn't been (offered a new one). I don't think it's right for me to go on about it here."
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As a Welshman, I can empathise with the Scots however after watching them against Wales, I truly believe they're not too far away from lumping a big score on the home nations. A little more cutting edge in attack and a little less try line fever and they'll get there, I'm sure.
..and agreed, there was nothing wrong with the disallowed try which potentially could have swayed the outcome of the game in Scotlands favour. The ref didn't have the best of games but Wales have also been at the end of more than our fair share of wrong decisions in recent years but it's all too easy to be armchair experts.
So keep the heads up Scotland, onwards and upwards. :)
@bob b. You are right about the disallowed try not being a knock-on but they scored a try through the next passage of play anyway so it's unlikely to have made any difference to the score (except that hogg's try would have been a more difficult conversion). I thought Scotland played very well (particularly hogg and denton) but the main reason they lost was their own indiscipline rather than any fault of the ref. The two yellow cards were both fair sin binnnings, deliberate professional fouls and with men down like that, you are inviting pressure. To be honest, I thought the ref's biggest failing in the game was how he handled the scrums. I cant remember a single one that stayed up, other ref's would have been reaching for the pocket rather than letting them go.
The results wil come, eventually.
I think Robinson should stay as coach, he believes, and that is a mighty thing by itself. Anything else, get a specialist coach in.
The knock on just before half time only happened because a Welsh player was handling the ball in the ruck, and the ref didn't see it.
He also disallowed a perfectly good try by Hogg. there was no knock on.
Same as he didn't see all the other handling offences, forward passes, and the deliberate knock on which led to the move where DeLuca was sent off.
I'm not a Robinson fan, but this game wasn't his fault.
Bit of a comedy of errors, and a bad game by the ref.
If we'd only played against England how we played yesterday, we'd have ripped them apart, that would have given us confidence, and I think that confidence would have seen us sitting 2 from 2.
Robinson is making changes, but maybe not fast enough.
He's been a bit off with his selections, and needs to be bolder.
Through retirements and injuries, we're now approaching a team which many thought he should have started the 6N with.
In light of the coaching changes, and the possible departure of Toonie, I'm willing to give Robinson another chance, but if the 2013 6N is a spoon avoidance campaign, he has to go.
How does he A R keep his job?
The only thing Scottish Rugby team have won in the last few years is the "Wooden Spoon"
Any other coach would have been sacked long ago?
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