Scots put 'big focus' on breakdown errors after Fiji defeat

BBC News

17 hours ago

Assistant coach Pete Horne is "sure we'll see a reaction" from Scotland against Samoa following their bruising loss to Fiji.Horne says errors in the "breakdown area" played a big part in the defeat, which has severely dented the Scots' hopes of getting a favourable World Cup draw.Therefore, the squad have put "a big focus" on addressing that prior to Friday's meeting with Samoa."A lot of the things that went wrong at the weekend were around the breakdown area, so there's been a big focus on that," Horne said."Especially that last 15 minutes. They really hammered us there. We showed a bit of footage on little ways that we can find solutions to be better and stop them getting over the ball. Ands that will just sharpen the focus."We defended so well for large parts of that game and just gave them a few cheap easy ins through offsides. Something like an offside, that's an easy fix."The players are all over it. The leaders have already spoken about that. I'm sure we'll see a reaction."Scotland will face Samoa without winger Darcy Graham, who has left Gregor Townsend's set-up to join eight compatriots in the British and Irish Lions squad.Prop Rory Sutherland and hooker Ewan Ashman will follow him after Friday's match and could feature for the Lions next Tuesday against a First Nations & Pasifika XV.