NO QUARTER GIVEN Greig: Scots face huge scrap to reach last eight
GREG LAIDLAW insists Scotland still face an almighty scrap to reach the World Cup quarter-finals – despite kickstarting their campaign by beating Samoa.
Gregor Townsend’s men thrashed the Pacific Islanders 34-0 on Monday to pick up the bonus point that keeps them in the race for a last-eight place.
But with the Scots still needing two wins and at least one bonus point from their last two games against Russia and Japan, vice-captain Laidlaw knows there is much work to be done.
It’s 20 years since a Scotland side last recorded three straight wins in a competition and equalling that feat won’t be easy.
Next up is a clash against Russia next Wednesday and they sit bottom of the pool after losing to Japan and Samoa.
But the team ranked 20th in the world have proved to be tricky opponents so Laidlaw knows his side will need to hit top form to claim a bonus-point win.
And the Scots need no warning about the threat posed by the Japanese after seeing the Brave Blossoms stun an Ireland side who crushed Townsend’s men 27-3 in the group opener.
Clermont Auvergne scrum-half Laidlaw said: “We knew that if we didn’t perform against Samoa we were packing our bags.
“That was the pleasing part in the way we performed. But we have to step it up again now. We are still in the same situation where we need to win every game.
“Russia have been good so far. Everyone has been impressed by them and so have we.
“Patience is going to be vitally important. Whoever plays must get the performance right and give us momentum going into the last game.”
The Scots were savaged for their dismal display against the Irish and Laidlaw is glad the impressive win over Samoa has lifted some of the doom and gloom surrounding the squad.
He said: “We feel a bit better. It was excellent we came through in the manner we did. We can take a lot of confidence from the way we performed.
“It was definitely up there in terms of complete performances.
“Each game is going to be different. Russia played really well against Samoa so we’re going to have to play well to get a result.”
The Scots will have just four days of recovery between their final two matches so Laidlaw is likely to be rested against the Russians in Shizuoka.
When asked about playing in both games, the 33-year-old said: “We have boys who are hungry to play and if it comes to it you could do it because we want to get into the quarter-finals. But it’s going to take a squad effort.”