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Andy Robinson: Scotland must step up for Australia test

17 Nov 2009


Andy Robinson has insisted he had painstakingly analysed every aspect of Scotland's victory over Fiji before deciding to name an unchanged squad for the visit of Australia.

Head coach Robinson has kept faith with the starting XV and substitutes who helped get his reign off to a winning start in Saturday's opening autumn international.

The former Edinburgh boss was satisfied with many aspects of his side's performance in the 23-10 success over a depleted Fiji but immediately demanded a 15% improvement for the Murrayfield meeting with the Wallabies.

After announcing his team this afternoon, Robinson reminded them there were plenty of candidates waiting in the wings if they failed to raise their game.

He said: "We've gone through every player and we looked at the good bits that they did, and also how they're going to improve.

"Through the way that the A team trained last week, a number of players put their hands up actually to be included.

"But it's having faith in this team, and saying to them, 'how are you going to improve and can we make the 15% improvement that I believe is necessary individually but also collectively in our performance?'

"And right across the board, we've looked at every single area - in our attack, our defence, scrum, line-out, to say how we're going to improve, and we need to improve this week."

Having been at fault for Fiji's try on Saturday, Simon Danielli will have been sweating on his place this morning.

But the Ulster winger was deemed to have done enough to see off the challenge of Thom Evans, who once again failed to make the squad.

Robinson said: "Simon did some very good things in the game, carried the ball well, made a couple of good kicks, and every player makes mistakes.

"It's how we deal with those mistakes and recover from those errors."

Robinson had injury concerns over number eight Johnnie Beattie and co-captain Mike Blair after neither trained yesterday.

But Beattie (groin) was back on the field today, with replacement scrum-half Blair (ankle) expected to follow tomorrow.

Robinson allowed himself and his players to celebrate Saturday's win in what was the 45-year-old's first Test match as a head coach for three years.

"You always celebrate victories; it's important to do that and pat the guys on the back," he said.

"But, once the game's over and you've enjoyed your Saturday, you start focusing on the next challenge.

"It's 0-0 against Australia, we have a different referee, we have a tough opposition that we've not beaten since 1982; we've got a tough job ahead of us."

Indeed, Scotland have a quite appalling recent record against the Wallabies, who have won the last 16 Tests between the sides.

The home side have also tasted victory against one of the Tri-Nations just once in their past 43 encounters.

"I'm looking forward to the future; it's not about looking back in the past," Robinson said.

"The key aspect for us is looking at this game and what's happened previously doesn't count for anything."

The ex-England coach was similarly dismissive about suggestions his past successes against the tourists - most notably the 2003 World Cup final - could make a difference.

"Like all things, it's about the players understanding who they're up against, not fearing the opposition," he said.

"We're in control of our performance, so it's taking control of that performance and taking the game to Australia."

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