Scotland have to make sure they get up to speed quickly in the autumn internationals according to Vern Cotter as they embark on his final year in charge of the team.
The New Zealander will step down at the end of the season, with Gregor Townsend taking over from him.
In the autumn internationals, Cotter’s side face Australia, Argentina and Georgia, and having started this year’s RBS 6 Nations slowly with defeats to England and Wales, the Kiwi wants his team to learn their lesson.
He told the Sunday Herald: “I’m happy with the way the team is moving forward, happy that we’ve got a nucleus of players that form the leadership group, and there is a better understanding of what’s required at international level, and so I’m more relaxed with that.
“When we come together, things will get into place reasonably quickly.
“If we look back at our first game in the Six Nations, against England, which we’ve analysed, and what we didn’t get right, we’re looking at how we try to make sure we get those things right against Australia – that we keep our shape in attack, our defence stays in place, we make good decisions and maintain an 80-minute effort.
“We have a group of guys that have played a lot of rugby together, that understand what’s required, and so does that take pressure of us as a coaching group? Well, it’s nice to know that that group is there and the conversations we’ve had with them are pointing to that.”
