Redpath aiming to bounce back

Scotland captain Bryan Redpath insists there are no fiercer critics than the players themselves after two successive RBS 6 Nations defeats at the hands of Ireland and France.

The Scots go head-to-head with fellow strugglers Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday with both teams chasing their first points to avoid the wooden spoon.

Edinburgh Gunners lock Scott Murray has been granted an immediate chance to prove coach Ian McGeechan was wrong to drop him after returning to the squad in place of injured Martin Leslie.

Bristol Shoguns back-row forward Ross Beattie has also been recalled to the squad.

Sale Sharks scrum-half Redpath insists the team are determined to nail accusations of a lack of fight and passion when the Welsh travel to Edinburgh.

And now the 31-year-old believes the team can hit the right note against Wales to re-capture the form which saw the Scots claim their first-ever clean sweep of the autumn Tests last November.

Redpath said: “I haven’t seen the criticism and it’s not something we discuss.

“The thing is to not let these things affect you. I understand them, I respect people’s views – whether they are right or wrong – but you can’t get bogged down by them.

“Hopefully, we can be honest and understand the things we’re not doing as a group instead of worrying about what other people are saying.”

Much has been made of Scotland’s failure to score a 6 Nations try, despite vastly differing back divisions in the two games.

But with Kenny Logan, Chris Paterson, Mike Blair and Gregor Townsend all breaching the first-line French defence in the 38-3 defeat in the Stade de France, Redpath is hoping the side can find their finishing touch against the Welsh this weekend.

He added: “We broke through France a few times but the support wasn’t there, the finishing wasn’t there and then we didn’t pick up points in their half.

“We had only two kickable kicks and from that aspect it’s vital we get something out of breaking the Welsh line on Saturday.”