Scotland coach: '˜Inexperience' key in defeat by England

Scotland forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys believes a lack of experience in 'squeezing out' wins from close games cost the team against England at the weekend.

Scotland forwards oach Jonathan Humphreys. Picture: SNS/SRU

Reflecting on the 15-9 loss in the Calcutta Cup clash,Humphreys said: “International rugby is determined by four or five key moments in every game. It is about understanding when these key moments are and how to react to that. We have a pretty inexperienced team and we are trying to work through that.”

Scotland fielded a team with a combined total of 494 caps, not far off the 512 in England’s XV. When it was pointed out that there was a fair amount of experience in a side coming into the tournament off a World Cup campaign, Humphreys clarified: “They are inexperienced in hugely pressurised moments. When you see teams that have been there, done it and squeezed out those moments, we are trying to do that.”

Scotland’s starting pack averaged 38 caps, similar to England’s, but it was the visitors who edged the key battlegrounds. “Yeah, that is a fair point,” admitted Humphreys. “We are not going to hide away from that. They closed the game out pretty well.”