Australia's rout over Wales focuses Scottish minds

Scotland defence coach Matt Taylor admits the traumatic loss to Australia in last year's World Cup quarter-final will be a motivating factor at BT Murrayfield on Saturday but stressed that the Wallabies' impressive win over Wales at the weekend is the game more sharply in focus.

Scotland defence coach Matt Taylor says the players will be "highly motivated" to prove their worth. Picture: Greg Macvean

The two nations will meet for the first time since referee Craig Joubert’s controversial penalty award gave Australia a 35-34 win at Twickenham and the 
Wallabies laid down a marker with a rampant 32-8 success in Cardiff.

Taylor said: “It [the quarter-final] is a motivating factor in the sense that if we’d done things differently we could have won that game. But you’re always motivated for a Test match. We’re at home, in front of a record crowd. It’s going to be a great occasion.

“Whenever you play one of the top three or four sides in the world you’re always highly motivated to do well.”

Taylor was impressed with the Aussies at the weekend and added: “They’re a very good side when they’ve got the ball going forward. It just shows that if you sit back and let them play they are one of the best sides in the world.

“We’re desperate to put in a good performance.”