Scotland coach Scott Johnson stated that his side have plenty to work on if they are to improve in this year's Six Nations.
Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland both scored tries for the visitors at Twickenham but Scotland were starved of possession and second best at the contact area - with Johnson admitted they must improve at the breakdown to get anything out of this year's tournament.
"I'm looking through blue eyes, so I'm not sure how England played but they must have done plenty right," said Johnson.
"When you're under constant pressure you are going to infringe more than you intend to - it's hard not to infringe when a side is dominating the breakdown like that.
"We were disappointing in the areas we need to work on. We can dream away but if we don't get the contact area right it's fantasy - dreams don't come true. We spoke about the improvements needed when we met in camp and we didn't make those today.
"It's no coincidence that the best team in the world [New Zealand] are the best in the contact area, both with and without the ball. Everyone looks at their great rugby players, but they can't be great rugby players unless they are getting quality ball.
"We need good old-fashioned hard grunt. There's improvements in our game needed right across the board.
"We weren't bullied at all. Did we try hard? Too right we did.
"I don't want to plaster over the cracks. Stuart [Hogg] had one of his best games in Scotland colours and we would like to get him into those positions. Yes, we can beat sides and look good, but we would like to look good more often. It's not for a lack of will. When we do it right, we look pretty good, but when we get it wrong we get punished for it."
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
The break down from a scottish possession point of view was a bit of a horror show. There is a very simple reason why they couldn't stop english ball though.
Since ohhhh, about 1845, England have gone to ground during the tackle, which in the last decade has given all the celtic nations their best chance to stop England getting any kind of momentum. I think saturday was the first time any celtic nation has experienced an England team that was fully commited to avoiding contact. Scotland got wrong footed and Ireland will be rubbing their chins and pondering a response. Choke tackles a-go-go, me thinks.
Posted 09:53 05th February 2013
porridge_time says...
@kybone
Could not agree with you more. Murray in my opinion along with Hamilton have been enjoying a free lunch for such a long time. Murray constant selection irks because not only does he fail to deliver on a consistant manner, he has the self-righteous belief that making himself unavailable for Sundays should be respected... well no it should not in this professional era.
Jackson continually flatters to deceive, but in reality is just not good enough.
Johnson needs to bring in an openside flanker, ditch Hamilton and Murray with promotions for A team charges. Leave Laidlaw at nine and promote Weir and Heathcott.
Posted 18:04 03rd February 2013
kybone says...
Part of the problem with Scotland is that they have a handful of players in the side that seem to be quite highly rated despite hardly ever playing well. Jim Hamilton is one. The bloke is massive but you hardly ever see him make an impact either by making carries or making big hits. In fact, the only time you ever seem to spot him is when he's picking fights with little wingers and scrum halves. Murray is another. Again, he's a real specimen, but you never see him use his size to impact the game. He just doesn't seem to have the appetite for a battle. And to think he was once considered the best tighthead in Britain. Then you have Jackson, who has been hyped up since beeing a teenager as having the potential to single handedly save Scotlands back play. I remember when he first came on the scene it was around the same time as Danny Cipriani, and everyone north of the border was saying that Jackson was the better player. Im sorry but i'd have Cipriani on a bad day over Jackson, and that says it all! The sooner Scotland stop selecting these limp wristed wastes of space, and get some proper tough Glasgow born and bred lads in the team, the better
Posted 12:46 03rd February 2013
scot_rsa says...
If Hogg is tried at 13 I'd look at Tonks at 15. Also Cross at 3 and Kellock back for Hamilton. I think SJ will do it. Oh and Heathcote at 10 no question. 3 home games so we can try out combos.
Posted 11:57 03rd February 2013
porridge_time says...
Lamont was not the cause of the back three seeing limited ball, Jackson is just not a test level ten. The forwards were woeful at the breakdown. Genuine openside is requried... Murray and Hamilton have to be shown the door completely as they offer nothing in the loose and very little in the tight.
Posted 09:26 03rd February 2013
PREEST says...
What has happened to Scottish Rugby?
Posted 06:16 03rd February 2013
melkdave says...
I really think S.Hogg should be playing 13 for club and Scotland,he excelled there at age group leval,and looks to have the class to take it to international leval.Also a combination of him and Scott looks really dangerous.So i would drop Lamont,move Maitland to 15 and bring on the pace of M.Evans to complement T.Vissier.Also Scotland really do need R.Rennie at 7 ,any news on him at all??I thought that D.Hall did enough to keep the 2 shirt,but i would start with R,Grant,and G.Cross as my props .J.Hamilton didnt have a good game again ,he was anonymus ,he needs to get into the game more and also carry otherwise id start looking at Gilchrist,Ryder or Swinson to partner R.Grey.Anyway all being well heres my XV against Italy
15) Maitland 14)Evans 13)Hogg 12)Scott 11)Vissier 10) Jackson needs to stamp authority on games 9)Laidlaw,needs to make runs from the base 8)Beattie 7)Rennie 6)Brown (c)5)Hamilton needs to make more tackles and carry more 4)Grey3)Grant 2)Hall 1)Cross
Posted 23:19 02nd February 2013
atg77 says...
Drop lamont if you want to get the back three into the game
Posted 22:49 02nd February 2013
scot_rsa says...
Well SJ says what he thinks and I hope he makes the tough decisions. Our breakdown play was abysmal. We need Rennie or Fusaro. Jackson was/is poor but options are limited. Heathcote? Our domestic policies shown up. And for a 50th cap I thought Murray was poor. Needless penalties, poor defence and lack of dominance at scrum time. Ok England were good but our back 3 deserve better service. Funny how Robinson had Scotland more disciplined at the breakdown, if only he'd been more adventurous in the backline. Despite the moans it was a tough assignment and some signs are better.
Posted 21:22 02nd February 2013