Sunday’s defeat to France has given Scotland even more belief that they are building a team capable of competing with the best, according to fly-half Duncan Weir.
The Worcester Warriors man kicked all of his side’s points in the 22-15 defeat to Les Bleus at BT Murrayfield at the weekend, as Fabien Galthie’s side put an end to Scotland’s five-game winning run.
Virimi Vakatawa scored the decisive try five minutes into the second half in Edinburgh after Vincent Rattez stormed through a hole in the hosts’ defensive line, leaving France top of Group B ahead of the final round of group fixtures this weekend.
And Weir is refusing to lose heart despite the defeat, with the 29-year-old positive Scotland can bounce back.
“I don’t think it was (a reality check),” he said. “It was a one-score defeat and the game could have swung either way.
“I think we did a lot of good things. Our game management was really good at times and it is now just about picking up the little details to take into the finals weekend, it is just about ironing out the creases for the next game.”
Weir has played every minute of Scotland’s Autumn Nations Cup campaign to date, stepping into the No.10 position after injuries to starting fly-halves Adam Hastings and Finn Russell in October’s 14-10 Guinness Six Nations victory over Wales.
The former-Glasgow Warrior has slotted perfectly into Gregor Townsend’s side after four and a half years without starting an international match, with 23 points to his name from his side’s two matches in the competition.
The fly-half admits the support from the injured duo has inspired his performances in the blue of his country, with the pair keen to wish him well as he stepped up to fill the void.
And, after racking up his 30th international cap in the defeat in Edinburgh, Weir is keen to continue his spell in the side after impressing against Italy and France.
“I’m hugely passionate about playing for Scotland so every opportunity I get to represent my country and play at BT Murrayfield is a huge thing for me,” he said. “I love every minute of wearing the national team jersey.
“I’m good friends with Adam and Finn – competition only spurs you on to play your best rugby – and those guys have been really supportive of me.
“I’m regularly in contact with Finn so it is great for me personally to have their backing.”
