Robinson vows to attack Ireland

Andy Robinson today insisted fighting fire with fire was Scotland’s best chance of avoiding the wooden spoon in Saturday’s final RBS 6 Nations match in Ireland.

Robinson’s side cannot afford to lose at Croke Park this weekend if they are to stand any chance of escaping the ignominy of landing Test rugby’s most infamous booby prize.

Despite earning plenty of plaudits for their performances, Scotland have failed to win any of their Six Nations matches since Robinson took charge.

The former England and Edinburgh head coach therefore could be forgiven for abandoning his principles and simply try to spoil against an Ireland side who are odds on for yet another Triple Crown this weekend.

But Robinson is adamant that to do so would be the surest route to damnation.

“The way to win away from home is to go out and take the opposition on,” he said.

“If we sit back and watch Ireland play, they’ll be pretty devastating.

“We’ve got to take the game to Ireland, as we did against Wales.

“We did very well against Wales in our approach to the game.

“We’ve got to take the game to Ireland and challenge them to defend – more than the Irish are defending – on the back foot.”

He added: “If we weren’t creating chances then we’d have major problems and we’d have to look at the way we’re trying to play.

“We’ve got lots of improvements to be made but we’re on the right journey.”

Saturday’s Calcutta Cup draw with England was the third successive match Scotland have dominated but failed to win since the Six Nations began.

It was also the fifth time in seven games under Robinson that they have failed to score a try.

Despite having been unable to resolve Scotland’s “white line fever” over the past month, Robinson insists the code can be cracked in time for Ireland.

“For me, issues can be solved in a week,” he said.

“We need a little bit more patience, we need to be able to keep the shape and have players really working hard to run hard onto the ball.”

Looking back at the England match, he added: “When we got close to the line, we got very narrow in the way that we played.

“Probably, our workrate wasn’t as good as it could’ve been and our accuracy wasn’t good, which is thinking clearly with the key decisions to make.”

Ireland do not have that problem, boasting one of the most effective back lines in the business, as they proved to devastating effect against Wales on Saturday.

“They played with pace and width,” Robinson said.

“They have probably the best finisher in the business in Tommy Bowe.

“He’s on fire at the moment. They know how to win, that’s the key aspect and what we aspire to be like.”

Robinson decided last night to delay naming his side until tomorrow for what is the final rugby union match at Croke Park.

He was due to select his 22-man squad this morning but the announcement was put back to give those recovering from knocks extra time to prove their fitness.

Flanker Kelly Brown was expected to undergo cognitive tests after being forced from the field following a sickening clash of heads with England wing Ugo Monye on Saturday.

Robinson said today the Glasgow star had “recovered” but it remains to be seen whether he will be passed fit to play.

Prop Euan Murray and centre Nick De Luca (both shoulder bruising), wing Max Evans (leg bruising), full-back Hugo Southwell (calf) and stand-off Phil Godman (shoulder joint/chest wall bruising) all remain “in doubt”, according to Robinson, who added: “The medical team are flat out at the moment.”