Cockerill: Scotland need to be ruthless

RICHARD COCKERILL believes Scotland must start turning narrow losses against major rugby-playing countries into wins if they are to truly progress. Gregor Townsend’s side lost to Wales and South Africa this month and the All Blacks this time last year — all games they could have won. Now Cockerill, capped 27 times for England as a player, says the Scots must show against Argentina at the weekend they can turn possession and territory into points to close games out. ‘The Wales result was disappointing, although Scotland played pretty well, had opportunities to win the game but didn’t take them,’ said the Edinburgh head coach. ‘That’s the next stage, getting territory and possession and taking advantage. Jonny Gray had a try ruled out against Wales for a double movement. Fine margins. ‘A couple of errors in defence and suddenly you are losing. Scotland put in a good performance against Fiji and South Africa, but it’s back to that old thing. At some point they’ve got to turn narrow losses into wins. ‘It’s similar to ourselves and maybe Glasgow in Europe. It’s those tiny little bits which always tend to fall against us as Scottish teams. ‘We’ve got to break that barrier of knocking one of those big teams over, to fall on that right side of a result rather than be just shy of it after a brave performance. It’s the W at the end of the column that’s the important part.’ Cockerill also believes Scotland go into the match against Argentina as favourites but must match them physically to make sure of victory. ‘I think it will be very, very tough this weekend for Scotland,’ said the 47-year-old ex-England hooker. ‘Argentina have improved over the last two months and, although the results haven’t been positive, the performances have been very, very good — and, Christ, they are physical. ‘But Scotland go into the game as favourites. Argentina have some very good players and they get stuck in to you. It will be a real psychological test.’