Scotland must get better very quickly

DEFENCE coach Matt Taylor admits Scotland struggled to organise themselves in time for their opening autumn rugby Test — but they have little choice other than make major improvements quickly.

Gregor Townsend’s side opened their campaign with a 44-38 victory over Samoa but Taylor has had an uneasy few days after his players conceded five tries.

Scotland host New Zealand this weekend with two more forwards ruled out.

Edinburgh prop WP Nel (arm) and Glasgow lock Tim Swinson (hand) both suffered broken bones on Saturday while flanker Rob Harley will miss the whole autumn campaign after failing to recover from the knee injury that saw him miss the Samoa encounter.

Taylor, who left Glasgow in the summer alongside Townsend to focus on his international role, said: “We’re all disappointed with how we defended, particularly where, over the last six months, there have been games where we have defended really well, like the Australia game and the Ireland game.

“So to let ourselves down at home was particularly disappointing.

“A few things we can put it down to. It’s the first time coming together for a long time, different guys are coming in from different systems, and I’m in a different situation this year where I’m not in control of Glasgow so I don’t have as much time with the players.

“So it’s getting them on the same page quickly.

“The good thing about it is we’ll be a lot better this weekend because we will need to be. Because we are under no illusions, unless we defend really well, we will come second.”

Taylor conceded Scotland possibly “subconsciously relaxed” after they went 30-10 ahead and hopes the subsequent scare banishes any remnants of complacency ahead of the visit of the All Blacks, who won 38-18 in France at the weekend.

“People don’t give Samoa the credit in terms of their individual brilliance and how powerful they are,” Taylor said. “I would rather be going into this game a wee bit worried rather than over confident.”