Streaky Scotland to turn it around
Scotland coach Andy Robinson insists his side could end their losing streak when they face Ireland on Saturday as long as they cut out the individual errors that have proved so costly in recent times.
Scotland have lost their last five Tests, a run dating back to the World Cup, and this season's Six Nations has left them in the unwanted position of being praised for 'gallant' defeats by England, Wales and France.
Ex-England flank and coach Robinson has won just two out of 13 Six Nations matches in charge of Scotland and even though he is contracted until after the 2015 World Cup that is a record he knows cannot be sustained if he wants to quell the mounting speculation over his future.
"I focus on the next game and that's all you can do," Robinson, whose side stunningly beat Ireland 23-20 at Dublin's Croke Park two years ago after four previous losses in the 2010 Six Nations, said on Friday.
"There's a great attitude, a great focus coming into the game and I have firm belief that if the team go out and play to their very best then we'll be in a position to win the game."
He added: "The errors that we've made have been individual errors. We've been punished for our lapses in concentration. The drop off in intensity in those moments.
"We've got to be able to keep our intensity levels up in attack and defence for the whole 80 minutes. Inside our third we've got to be a little bit more brutal with ourselves in the way that we defend," explained the Scotland boss.
Robinson's words were backed up by Scotland scrumhalf Mike Blair, who said: "There's a lot of belief within the squad and the ability of the individuals within the squad, to make us feel confident that if everything goes according to plan, we've got a good chance.
"There's no more pressure than you would usually feel. Andy's been fantastic for Scotland. He's a great coach and he's prepared us as well as he can," added Blair.
At Lansdowne Road, Scotland will face an Ireland team who've had just a few days to recover from a 17-17 draw away to World Cup finalists France in a re-arranged fixture.
"A six-day turnaround is pretty tough for them," Robinson said. "In order to really punish the opposition you've got to get quick ball.
"If we get quick ball that will slow down their line speed and give us better opportunities to break down their defence. That's the key to the game, the speed of ball that both sides get."
Ireland have been forced into three changes, with injured skipper Paul O'Connell, flank Sean O'Brien and scrumhalf Conor Murray replaced by Donnacha Ryan, Peter O'Mahony and Eoin Reddan, respectively.
Robinson said: "They've lost quality players, but quality players have come in, young players with points to prove. We expect them to perform well."
Meanwhile Robinson insisted he'd no problems with either Ireland's use of the 'choke' tackle, where they try to prevent a ruck forming, or New Zealand referee Chris Pollock's understanding of the tactic.
"I like the choke tackle. I think it's executed really, really well," added Robinson.
"It's the interpretation of it, of when it's a maul and when it's a tackle - when does it start becoming a maul? That's what we've asked for clarification on and I'm happy with the way the referee's going to referee that," he said.
AFP