Taylor: We’ll tighten up leaky defence for All Blacks

Defence coach Matt Taylor fronted up, to use the rugby lingo, yesterday to express confidence that Scotland will make the necessary improvements for the visit of world champions New Zealand to BT Murrayfield on Saturday evening.

The weekend’s 44-38 win over Samoa in the first Test of the autumn series was marred by the concession of five tries – Scotland scored six of their own – to spark concern about what the All Blacks would do when confronted with a similarly leaky rearguard.

Taylor took his share of the responsibility and expressed disappointment with the defensive display. After the game Stuart Hogg said he expected Gregor Townsend’s assistant to “unleash hell” and Taylor hinted that some strong words had indeed been forthcoming.

“I was happy that we won but any time, particularly when I’m in charge of defence, and you are losing five tries at Murrayfield, you are not going to be happy,” he said. “I was disappointed knowing that we are playing New Zealand this week. But I’m looking for a big change in terms of that, and that’s what we have to do.”

The Samoans were particularly effective exposing Scotland around the ruck