IT’S DO OR DIE
Every game’s knockout now says coach Taylor
MATT TAYLOR has warned Scotland that a return to bad habits against Russia will throw them back into a World Cup crisis.
The Scots reignited their quarter-final bid with Monday’s bonuspoint win over Samoa as they shook off the shame of their woeful display in the Pool A opener against Ireland.
Gregor Townsend declared the real Dark Blues had finally shown up in Japan after his side’s 34-0 triumph over the Pacific Islanders in Kobe.
The stage is now set for a nerve-shredding decider with the hosts on October 13 to see who reaches the last eight.
But before that Townsend’s team must take care of Russia – ranked 20th in the world – a week today to ensure the Pool A battle goes down to the wire.
Defence coach Taylor doesn’t want to see his side repeat the sloppy mistakes which left them on the brink of an early exit and admits every match is now do or die.
He said: “The reality of where we are is it is knock-out now. Every game now is like a quarter-final.
“We have to turn up and play Russia with the right mindset and do a good professional job.
“Hopefully if we do that then we set ourselves up for a really good game against Japan.
“I will be disappointed if we don’t show the same aggression and mindset because we know if we don’t show up, or put in a performance like we need to, we are out. It is basically knockout every game for us now.”
Taylor admits that with just four days between their final two fixtures, the Scots could put out two entirely different line-ups – allowing them to get a head start on preparations for the showdown with the Japanese.
He said: “We’re going to sit down and draw up a really good plan.
“Our preparation has to be spot on.
“It’s maybe not as simple (as preparing with two separate teams) but in a general sense, it is.”