Robinson: We badly need a win

Andy Robinson has urged his Scotland players to focus on the players who are on the pitch at the Aviva Stadium, rather than getting too excited about Ireland’s long injury list.

Declan Kidney goes into the game without Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Sean O’Brien and Conor Murray and, having worked with the two former Lions captains, Robinson is well aware of their qualities.

But he reckons that while weakened, this Ireland team can still pack plenty of punch and doesn’t want the visitors to take them lightly.

“They are two world-class players that are leaving the side, but we have to deal with the players that are on the pitch,” Robinson said.

“You can get too focused with the fact they’ve lost O’Driscoll and O’Connell, and think this is great for us. But there is a lot of quality and Lions or potential Lions in their squad.

“You have guys playing with Leinster, Munster and Ulster who are used to winning and have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup; guys that are playing well. And that’s what we’ve got to be focused on, not on guys that aren’t there.”

The Scotland coach admitted his side come into this clash on the back of a poor record and, although they have improved steadily during the championship, is aware they need a win to boost morale around Murrayfield.

“We’re really disappointed with where we are in terms of the championship, but if you let that hang over you then it inhibits the way you play,” he said.

“What I’ve been delighted about the way the guys who have gone out and played is that in the first-half of all games we’ve started well, and we’ve got to be able to do that tomorrow. You play away from home you’ve got to be able to control the scoreboard. But you’ve also got to be able to control possession, that’s one of the things we did well against Wales.”

Robinson has reportedly criticised the much talked about Irish ‘choke tackle’, but in Dublin yesterday he remained diplomatic.

“Contrary to what people think, I think the choke tackle is an excellent way of defending,” he said. “I think it has brought something different to the game so I have no issue with the way they are defending, but I want it to be interpreted and refereed in the right way, as per law.

“Ireland employ it when a player is isolated and that’s a key area for us because we can’t afford to let players get isolated.

“When we got isolated against France we got turned over and when we got support to the breakdown we got quick ball.

“It’s quite a simple game isn’t it? I’ve explained this to the players. When we’ve had numbers and two support players we’ve looked quite good and got quick ball, but as soon as we’ve allowed players to get isolated we’ve been turned over.”