Sorry Scots have eight days to save World Cup hopes

RUGBY: Maitland admits changes are inevitable after Ireland embarrassment

Changes are inevitable after the debacle against Ireland in the first game, but Scotland will bounce back against Samoa and get their Rugby World Cup campaign moving, vowed wing Sean Maitland.

The New Zealand-born wing has close family ties with Samoa so the match in Kobe Misaki Stadium on Monday has a special meaning for him, but there is absolutely no room for sentiment with Scotland in such a dire situation after the 27-3 defeat to the Irish.

“The only good thing about Sunday and being at a World Cup is that we have a second chance,” he said. “We’ve got these eight days between games to get it right.

“I’m sure there are going to be some changes, and that’s got to happen, but as Gregor (Townsend) said in the dressing room, the main thing is that we stay tight and we’ve got each other’s back. Now we go again.”

And the Scots have experience of going into a game against Samoa knowing that it’s a last chance, he pointed out.

“Now, we’ve got to win all our games,” he said.

“We were in that situation in the last World Cup where we lost to South Africa and had to win to qualify, but we managed to win the game against Samoa in Newcastle qualify.”

Richard Cockerill has told Scotland fans to shake off their World Cup fears – and insisted their heroes will reach the knockout stages.

The Edinburgh head coach reckons Gregor Townsend’s underpressure troops will bounce back immediately from their defeat by Ireland.

And Cockerill has no doubts that they will stroll to victory over Samoa and Russia – then snuff out hosts Japan to set up a quarter final collision with champions New Zealand.

The Edinburgh coach said: “Scotland’s start to the campaign was not perfect. But people should look at the remaining pool matches positively.

“What happened last weekend is history – if Scotland needed a kick up the a***, then they certainly got it.

“We can’t control what’s done.

“It’s rubbish and no one likes it – however, the reality was that Ireland were likely to win anyway.

“But if I was Gregor, I would circle the wagons, get the team well prepared and out against Samoa on Monday and show everybody that he does have a really good team.

“Sometimes s*** things happen and we just have to get on with it.

“I think Scotland will beat Samoa and Russia and Japan.

“And I think they set up one humdinger of a quarter-final, probably against New Zealand.”

Cockerill added: “The strongest team should face Samoa, make some changes for Russia – and then bring back the best guys to go full bore for Japan.

“They will win all those three games if they have the right mindset and get away from all the rubbish that goes on social media – where everybody wants to hang everybody in the morning.”

New Zealand-born wing Sean Maitland.